Putting Away

Twelfth Night was traditionally the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking. Modern practice is often to regard the night of Epiphany itself (sixth of January) to be Twelfth Night.

The older tradition of Twelfth Night being the 5 January stems from the medieval practice of the day beginning at sunset, rather than at midnight as it does now. Thus Twelfth Night fell on 5 January, ahead of Twelfth Day on the 6th.

I'm happy to go with an extra day of twinkle!