SC - 12th Night

[Mark Harris]

Master Huen Damebrigge asked:

Greetings. I'm the head cook for AEthelmearc's first kingdom 12th Night,
to be held this January, and was wondering if anyone can recommend some
sources for period 12th Night foods. I'm also generally curious about
what foods were traditionally served and what was expected at a Medieval
12th Night feast. All suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance.

>>>>>>
I have one file in the CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS section of my Florilegium
that has some useful info:

12th-nite-msg      (5K)  3/13/92    12th Night celebrations.

Unfortunately, there is only one message in there. I have pasted it
below. As you can see it is a rather old message, but the info hasn't
spoiled. :-)  Roasted boar's head, anyone?

Stefan li Rous
mark_harris at email.sps.mot.com
- ---------------
From: dorothy at cogsci.berkeley.edu (Dorothy Heydt)
Date: 8 Dec 89 17:25:38 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

("Eleanor J. Evans @ 462-5330") writes:
>twelfth night customs ......

Well, it is apparently the last day on which you can serve the roasted
boar's head.  The last verse of the carol reads:

        The boar's head, I dare well say,
        Anon upon the twelveth day,
        He takyth his leave and goeth away,
        Exivit tunc de patria.               [He has left the country.]

You can be visited by people representing the Three Kings who pass out
goodies (or lumps of coal).  

You can pass around a fruit (or other) cake in which is baked a single
bean (or coin, or ...).  Whoever gets the token is Lord of Misrule and
gets to sit on the King's throne and act silly.  One year my Lord Husband
got the bean and spent part of the evening having all the Heralds act
out all the heraldic positions: a herald rampant, a herald passant guardant,
a herald salient, etc., etc...

Dorothea of Caer-Myrddin
Mists/Mists/West


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