When is Christmas?

S describes the party we were at last Sunday as her "Christmas leftovers party". The idea is that everyone contributes whatever they have from overcatering for the festivities, or being given presents of more sweets than they can eat. Inevitably, this means that the party itself generates leftovers, but at least we all get sent home with someone else's contribution, which makes for variety.

One of the guests - only one - was wearing a Christmas jumper (big reindeer face, red woolly bobble nose) which he described, rather defensively, as his "leftover Christmas jumper." He explained that his wife (who I don't think was at the party) had discouraged him from wearing it, because, she said, after Christmas Day, Christmas was over. A whole group of people disagreed strongly with this, and launched into the usual discussion of when is Twelfth Night, anyway? (with much counting on fingers), and what is Epiphany? and don't people break their teeth on the bean in the galette? which is always fun, and reveals much about Other People's Traditions. I maintained, as I usually do, that people who want Christmas to be over too soon are usually paying the price for starting too early, and that Christmas doesn't begin until Christmas Day, though some celebration is permissible on Christmas Eve.

( In practice, though... )

In theory, then, my Christmas ends at Epiphany. But tonight we will go to the Lit & Phil for spooky stories: so traditional an Epiphany event that tonight must be
Epiphany observed. Tomorrow I will take down the Christmas cards (our only nod to decorations).