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Glite Dictionary
Twelfthtide

Twelfthtide

9.9
A church season after the twelfth day of Christmas when people celebrate the visit of the wise men
  • noun
  • /ˈtwɛlfθtaɪd/
  • Literature
: Epifanía
  • During Twelfthtide, churches are often decorated with special colors and ornaments.

Examples

  • In some traditions, the celebrations continue throughout Twelfthtide until Candlemas.

  • The customs of Twelfthtide vary greatly between different Christian communities.

  • Many families celebrate Twelfthtide with special meals.

  • The decorations come down after Twelfthtide.

  • During Twelfthtide, many people reflect on the significance of the Epiphany and its traditions.

  • In some cultures, Twelfthtide marks the end of the Christmas celebrations with festive gatherings.

  • Celebrating Twelfthtide often includes enjoying king cake and other special treats.

Surface Forms

Twelfthtide singular
Twelfthtides plural

Morphology

Twelfthtide = twelfth + tide (semi-transparent) = twelfth + tide

Formally a compound of 'twelfth' + 'tide', but 'tide' meaning 'season' is archaic/poetic and the specific religious sense (Epiphany season) is culture-specific, so not fully guessable for learners.

Etymology

The word Twelfthtide comes from the parts twelfth, meaning the twelfth day after Christmas, and tide, meaning 'time' or 'season', the same tide in Yuletide. So Twelfthtide is the season of Epiphany and the days of celebration after the Twelfth Day.