From llc@2gb.net Thu Dec 03 13:58:48 1998 Subject: Re: ASSC AFTSD 12 days and an Epiphany From: LLC On the Twelfth day of Christmas I gave to my A*T*F 12 un-employed drummers 11 faggots piping (so to speak) 10 dykes a licking 9 dancers stripping 8 amazing boobies 7 feather tickers 6 vibrating eggs FIVE GOLD CLIT RINGS 4 leather g-strings 3 ben frank's 2 enemas and a partridge OR-I-GA-MI !! -------------------------------------------------------- Christmastide --------------- Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later, January 6, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the and the Massacre of the Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry, mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days. In the Church, as in the synagogue, the day technically begins at sunset. Therefore, Christmas begins at sundown on 24 December, which we very appropriately call ‘Christmas Eve.’ The Christmas Season, which begins with Christmas Eve, ends on the eve of Epiphany, which is sundown on 5 January. Therefore, Christmas lasts twelve days, and the period from sundown on 24 December to sundown on 5 January is called the Twelve Days of Christmas. The tradition of giving a gift on each of the twelve days is pretty much gone. However, in some parts of the world and in some families, the tradition of giving Christmas gifts on each of those twelve days persists. Christ's Epiphany to the World -- January 6 --------------------------------------------- Epiphany is a Greek word meaning manifestation and this feast is celebrated on January 6 to mark the presentation of Baby Jesus to the three wise men. At one time it was the date of the celebration of Christmas itself. But now it marks the twelfth and last day of the Christmas season. When the three Wise Men - Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar - arrived in Jerusalem, they inquired after the place of birth of the Christ-child, whom they mentioned King of the Jews. King Herod, who was the actual ruler in those days, felt threatened by this denomination of the new-born Jesus. He invited the three Wise Men to return to his court following their visit to the Christ-child. If they would be as courteous as to tell him where they had found the new 'King', he, King Herod, could bring the Christ-child some gifts too. In point of fact Herod was planning to eliminate his rival. It panned out differently. An angel warned the three Wise Men in a dream not to return to Herod. After their visit to Bethlehem they went straight to their own countries. The Feast of the Epiphany was traditionally a night of fun and games, and also when Christmas decorations were taken down. In fact, it is meant to bring bad luck if your house remains decorated after the twelfth night. It was customary to eat a specially baked Twelfth Night Cake on the occasion. In Britain the cake was baked with a single bean in it. The person who found the bean in their slice of cake was named Bean King or Queen and they could then choose a partner to help them rule over the games and the celebration. Don't look for my Epiphany any time soon, LLC