Twelfth Night · Shab-e Davazdahom

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

Twelfth Night is the evening of January 5, the eve of Epiphany, which closes the twelve days of Christmas by the count the Church of England uses. It was long a night of feasting and revelry, and Shakespeare's comedy takes its name from it. Christmas decorations come down, a cake with a bean hidden in it chooses a king or queen for the night, and in England's cider country apple trees are wassailed, sung to for a good harvest.