Twelfth Night 2011

"Now Christmas is past,
Twelfth Day is the last,
To the Old Year adieu,
Great joy to the New."

Welsh Twelfth Day Carol

According to Don Cerow who writes a newsletter under the pseudonym "Star Myths," we're in the season of the eclipse. Indeed, the night of the Winter Solstice was marked by a beautiful Lunar Eclipse, and January 4, the day of the New Moon will host a Solar Eclipse. I will take the liberty of quoting a bit of Mr. Cerow's prose, because I think it so beautifully captures the Spirit of the Winter nights.

"We're in the Eclipse Season"

Winter New Moon's are particularly long and dark. Depending on your latitude, the sun goes down for the count during the winter, remaining below the horizon much more than above. While there, he surrenders his fair share of the day to the Lady of the Night, La Luna, in return for favors to be named at a later date.

Tonight's the night fleet-footed Diana catches her brother in a monthly race between the siblings. At the finish, they generally hide out together for a few days and relax unseen by mortal eyes among the cool marble pillars of Olympus. Per usual , those of us here in North American will not catch a glimpse of their rendezvous this month, but others might be a little luckier. Any who travel to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and beyond will be among those able to get down on one knee and watch through the keyhole as the two are reunited. Careful observers will see the Curvacious One lying just inside Apollo's Sun-Kissed chamber. Diana will later return to the duties of her realm as she generally does. In the meantime the stars and sprites have been left in her stead to keep an eye over the darkened woodland paths and trails.

They'll report back to her later.

And, of course, Twelfth Night also brings the day of Epiphany, and the story of the Three Kings of the East, who traveled afar to bring gifts to the newborn Baby King of the Jews.

And because Winter lasts, and Epiphany indicates the end of the festival season of Yuletide, the season of Carnival begins in most of the world ... the season of distorted time, and the suspension of rules of social structure continue, celebration, feasting and merry making continue to be the rule of the land.