Twelfth Night Cake or King Cake – Which is it?



Music For the Twelve Days of Christmas RCA Victor – Catalog #PRS188



     One dessert with roots in a pre-Christian Roman celebration is still enjoyed today all over the world in celebrations during the Christmas season (Christmas Eve – Epiphany Day) in some parts of the world and during the Carnival season (Epiphany Day – Mardi Gras) in other parts of the world.  That dessert is the King Cake.

The King Cake of New Orleans

     The King Cake is a brioche-style cake traditionally made throughout the State of Louisiana during the weeks prior to Mardi Gras. Usually oval in shape, the King Cake is a bakery delicacy made from a rich Danish dough (which is a sweetened yeast bread…a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry) and covered with a poured sugar topping decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars of purple (symbolizing Justice), green (symbolizing Faith) and gold (symbolizing Power). This colorful topping is representative of a jeweled crown in honor of the Three Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany (a word derived from the Greek meaning “to show”). Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night (i.e., January 6) is when the Carnival Season officially begins.

Gateau des Rois of France, Belgium, Quebec, and others

     In the Roman Empire, Saturnalia was a celebration of the harvest and winter solstice named for the Roman God of agriculture, Saturnus.  As part of that festival, it was customary to share a cake which contained one single bean. (The bean was a sacred vegetable in Rome, not at all common and plentiful as it is today.)  He who found the bean in his slice of cake became the “King of the Feast.”

     The tradition of Saturnalia carried over from the Roman Empire into the Middle Ages in the form of the Twelfth Night Celebration, a celebration of the Epiphany (the day the magi arrived and gave gifts to the Christ child) and the end of the Christmas season.  With the Twelfth Night Celebration, the tradition of using a bean in a cake to elect a mock king, known as the Lord of Misrule, also continued.  The Twelfth Night Cake and Lord of Misrule traditions were expanded throughout the middle ages to include not only a bean (the finder of which became the mock king), but also a pea for the queen, and later, in the sixteenth century, a clove to designate the jester. 

     In Renaissance tradition, the first slice of the Twelfth Night Cake was reserved for God, the second for the Virgin Mary, and three additional slices for the magi.  These portions of the cake were given to the poor.  In some regions of the world, the tradition of giving a portion of the Twelfth Night Cake to the poor continues in today’s celebrations.

Rosca de Reyes of Spain and Spanish America

     In Spain, the rosca de reyes (King’s Cake) is eaten on January 6^th in celebration of Dia de Reyes (Kings Day).  In Spanish tradition, the finder of the object baked into the cake must take the object to the nearest church on February 2^nd in celebration of Candlemas Day – the celebration of Jesus’ presentation in the temple.  (According to Jewish tradition, an infant had to be presented in the temple forty days after his/her birth.)

     The King’s Cake tradition continues throughout the western Europe and parts of the Americas including the southern Gulf Coast of the United States.  The American King’s Cake tradition is thought to have roots in Creole tradition.  Early French and Spanish settlers of Louisiana  combined their traditions.  The Twelfth Night Cake, which was used in both French and Spanish celebrations, was served on January 6^th and contained a figurine of the baby Jesus.  Gifts were given to symbolize the gifts of the Magi.  This celebration evolved into Le Petit Noel (Little Christmas) and is still celebrated today as the kick-off to the Carnival season.  Balls and parties of Carnival are celebrated nightly beginning with celebration of le Jour des Rois (Kings Day) and continuing thru Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the last day of feasting before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.  

German Dreikonigskuchen

     Today, the cakes are baked in many shapes but originally, they were round to portray the circular route take by the Magi in order to confuse King Herod, whose army was attempting to follow the Wise Men so that the Christ Child could be killed.  The tradition of the King’s Cake continues today with office parties and evening galas complete with the baked in trinket.  Such a find is still deemed to be a sign of good luck, and it customary for the person who discovers the hidden plastic baby to host the next King Cake Party. 

     So, there we have it; the tradition of a Roman Empire festivity that has evolved and is enjoyed today in celebration of both the Christmas season and the season of Carnival that ends with the start of Lent.  Don your purple, gold, and green, buy or bake your Kings Cake, and enjoy.

Traditional King Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) container sour cream  

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1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 (1/4-ounce) envelopes active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water (100° to 110°)

1 tablespoon sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten  

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6 to 6 1/2 cups bread flour*

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Creamy Glaze

Purple-, green-, and gold-tinted sparkling sugar sprinkles

Preparation

1.  Cook first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts. Set aside, and cool mixture to 100° to 110°.

2.  Stir together yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.

3.  Beat sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until smooth. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add enough remaining flour (4 to 4 1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms.

4.  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top.

5.  Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.

6.  Punch down dough, and divide in half. Roll each portion into a 22- x 12-inch rectangle. Spread 1/3 cup softened butter evenly on each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over butter on each rectangle.

7.  Roll up each dough rectangle, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Place one dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with second dough roll.

8.  Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

9.  Bake at 375° for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cakes on pans on wire racks (about 10 minutes). Drizzle Creamy Glaze evenly over warm cakes; sprinkle with colored sugars, alternating colors and forming bands. Let cool completely.

Cream Cheese-Filled King Cake: Prepare each 22- x 12-inch dough rectangle as directed. Omit 1/3 cup softened butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Increase 1/2 cup sugar to 3/4 cup sugar. Beat 3/4 cup sugar; 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 large egg; and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on each dough rectangle, leaving 1-inch borders. Proceed with recipe as directed.

*6 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour may be substituted.

Note:

This recipe uses bread flour, which makes for a light, airy cake. You still get tasty results with all-purpose flour–the cake will just be more dense.

This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

Christmas In Sweden

Christmas In Sweden Capitol Records Catalog #T10079

    
     It is dark, cold, and snowy in Sweden in December. The days are short and the nights long. Families begin the Christmas season by attending church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The children count the days from the first day of December until Christmas with an Advent calendar. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar’s Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it.    


Tradition has it that Lucia is to wear “light in her hair.” Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

      The Christmas festivities really begin on December 13 with St. Lucia’s Day, which celebrates the patron saint of light. The eldest daughter gets up before dawn and dresses as the “Queen of Light” in a long white dress. She wears a crown of leaves and lighted candles. Singing “Santa Lucia,” the Lucia Queen goes to every bedroom to serve coffee and treats to each member of the family. The younger children in the family help, too.
     The Lucia tradition can be traced back both to St Lucia of Syracuse, a martyr who died in 304, and to the Swedish legend of Lucia as Adam’s first wife. It is said that she consorted with the Devil and that her children were invisible infernals. Thus the name may be associated with both lux (light) and Lucifer (Satan), and its origins are difficult to determine. The present custom appears to be a blend of traditions.
     In the old almanac, Lucia Night was the longest of the year. It was a dangerous night when supernatural beings were abroad and all animals could speak. By morning, the livestock needed extra feed. People, too, needed extra nourishment and were urged to eat seven or nine hearty breakfasts. This kind of feasting presaged the Christmas fast, which began on Lucia Day.
     The last person to rise that morning was nicknamed ‘Lusse the Louse’ and often given a playful beating round the legs with birch twigs. The slaughtering and threshing were supposed to be over by Lucia and the sheds to be filled with food in preparation for Christmas. In agrarian Sweden, young people used to dress up as Lucia figures (lussegubbar) that night and wander from house to house singing songs and scrounging for food and schnapps.

Click here for a lussekatter recipe

     The first recorded appearance of a white-clad Lucia in Sweden was in a country house in 1764. The custom did not become universally popular in Swedish society until the 20th century, when schools and local associations in particular began promoting it. The old lussegubbar custom virtually disappeared with urban migration, and white-clad Lucias with their singing processions were considered a more acceptable, controlled form of celebration than the youthful carousals of the past. Stockholm proclaimed its first Lucia in 1927. The custom whereby Lucia serves coffee and buns (lussekatter) dates back to the 1880s, although the buns were around long before that.

Click for more about Gothenburg Christmas Markets

     Many families go to the Christmas market in the old medieval section of Stockholm to buy handmade toys, ornaments, and candy. Gift-givers like to seal the package with sealing wax and write a special verse that will accompany the gift.  Christmas Markets in Sweden are vibrant and colourful and brimming full with traditional ornaments and gifts along with homemade candy and delicious warming glug (warmed wine).  Markets can be found around Sweden, the largest and most famous being in Gothenburg and Stockholm. 
   

Click for a pepparkakor recipe

     The whole family helps to select the Christmas tree just a day or two before Christmas. Then they use papier-mache apples, heart-shaped paper baskets filled with candies, gilded pinecones, small straw goats and pigs, little Swedish flags, glass ornaments, and small figures of gnomes wearing red hats to decorate the tree.  The tree may also be decorated with shaped spiced cookies called pepparkakor.  Families may also set out a sheath of grain on a pole to feed hungry birds.
    Swedish Julafton, or Christmas Eve dinner may be a smorgasbord, or buffet with julskinka, or Christmas ham, pickled pigs feet, lutfisk, or dried codfish, and many different kinds of sweets. Risgryngrot a special rice porridge, has hidden in it an almond which as tradition has it the person who finds the almond in his or her bowl will marry in the coming year.  Here is an excerpt from a blog by a young Swedish woman describing her familie’s Christmas Eve traditions. 

Our main Christmas celebration take place on Christmas Eve in Sweden. Which is why I have chosen to share points during this day that I find are essential for it to be a traditional Swedish Christmas Eve.

Winter in Rödeby in Sweden 2010, my mums garden. So we, and by we I mean my aunts, uncles, cousins and so on, start our day with a breakfast consisting of risgrynsgröt – rice pudding with milk. Usually an almond is hidden in the rice pudding and whomever finds it wins something.

At lunch we eat lutfisk – lutefisk with white sauce and boiled potatoes. I do like the sauce and potatoes best in this dish. Lutefisk, well it definitely has a special taste. Actually it is not so much the taste of the lutefisk as it is the texture of it that makes me not want to eat it so much. It tastes a bit like fish jelly… However, because it is a traditional Christmas Eve meal I do place a tiny bit of lutefisk on my plate – to represent.

At 3 PM sharp I, like the majority of households in Sweden, sit my butt down in front of the TV and watch Donald Duck “From All of Us to All of You”.

This cartoon hour has become a very important part of a genuine Swedish Christmas Eve. So if you happen to find yourself out and about at this time on Christmas Eve in Sweden, you are probably the only one! The cartoon first aired in Sweden 1960, and believe it or not, has ever since been one of the most watched TV-shows every year in Sweden. In 2009 it was number three on the list over “the most watched TV-shows in Sweden” with 3 294 000 viewers.

After Donald Duck has released us from his spell we usually have our main meal of the day, the Swedish julbord – Christmas buffet.

A must on it is Christmas ham! To have a Christmas Ham on a Swedish Julbord in Sweden is as important as it is to have turkey on Thanksgiving in America.

Other traditional food on a Swedish julbord are: Swedish meatballs, pickled herring in different sauces, brawn, chipolata sausages, ribs and my favourite, Janssons frestelse – Janssons temptation. Janssons consist of potato casserole with onion, pickled anchovies, bread crumbs and cream. Now these are the most common foods, but there can be as much or as little as you want on a Swedish julbord.

For dessert we usually have warm ostkaka- cheesecake or ris a la malta with fruit sauce. Ris a la malta consists of left over rice pudding mixed with cream.

Popular drinks on Christmas Eve in Sweden are julmust – Christmas root beer, special Christmas beer and dram. I usually drink all at one point or another during the day.

After all this food it is finally time to open Christmas gifts! Which looked like this in my family on Christmas Eve of 2010.

Originally, well actually there is not just one source which has led up to the Christmas we celebrate today. But rather Christmas has been transformed into what it is today based on many different celebrations. Like Christianity’s celebration of the birth of Jesus, Roman Sun Festival, ancient Scandinavian Christmas celebration and National Romanticism in the 1800s. In fact many of our Christmas traditions are a fusion of old Swedish traditions mixed with elements from other countries.

When we first started to introduce a Christmas gift distributing character he was an imitation of the Swedish gårdstomten – farm elf. However after a while he increasingly began to resemble a merry Saint Nicholas in red clothes. Actually today’s Swedish jultomte – Santa Claus is inspired by two traditional Swedish characters. First one is gårdstomten – the farm elf. It was believed that the farm elf attracted luck to your farm as long as you were on good terms with him. During Christmas farmers used to set out a bowl of rice pudding with almond and butter for him to keep him content. And second is julbocken – Christmas goat. He was accounted for much Christmas frolic during the old peasant Sweden.

Regarding the Christmas goat, I just have to tell you about a kind of odd tradition we have here in Sweden. Almost every year, since 1966, during December in the Swedish city of Gävle, a giant Christmas goat is made of straws and put up in the town square. And every year it is set on fire and burnt down. Something everyone knows will happen, but yet it get featured in news and causes outcry each time. Ok, in a sort of sarcastic manner, but still – weird huh?

Some other traditions we have adopted, mainly from Germany, are Christmas trees, Advent candles, Advent calendars, Advent stars and Advent candlesticks. All part of today’s traditional Swedish Christmas decorations. And our beloved cartoon, “Donald Duck and all his friends”, made its way to our homes from the USA.
Link to the source blog.

    
    
     After dinner, the Christmas tree lights are lit. Then the Jultomten, the tiny Christmas gnome, comes on a sleigh drawn by the Christmas goat, Julbokar. In some families, a friend or family member dresses up in a red robe and wears a long white beard to bring toys for the children. In other families, the Jultomten’s gifts are left beneath the tree. After the gifts are opened, the family dances around the tree singing a special song.
In the predawn darkness of Christmas Day, candles illuminate every window. Bells ring out, calling families to churches lit by candlelight. Back home again, the parents kindle a blaze in the fireplace to light the darkness. The following day is Second Day Christmas, a day of singing carols.
     On January 5, the eve of Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, young boys dress up as the Wise Men and carry a lighted candle on a pole topped with a star. These boys go from house to house singing carols.
Then on St. Knut’s Day on January 13, there is one last Christmas party. The grown-ups pack away the Christmas decorations while the costumed children eat the last of the wrapped candies left on the tree. Then out goes the tree to the tune of the last song of Christmas.
     No two countries celebrate Christmas exactly the same way. But while people around the world might have different traditions, Christmas is always observed with a sense of wonder and reverence, with friends and family gathered. That’s a Christmas tradition we all share.

This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

What is Jon Bon Jovi’s Connection to Star Wars? Christmas In The Stars



Christmas In The Stars Star Wars Christmas Album Meco – RSO Records Nov. 1980 – Catalog #RS13093

     What do you get when you combine the talents of a trombone playing West Point graduate with a strong dislike for pop music, a musician who was a child prodigy playing piano in Sunday School at age five for a congregation that included Chuck Berry and Ike and Tina Turner, the grandson of a Jewish cantor who won an award for music composition at the age of seven, a Korean War veteran who had been shot in the head and later worked as an illustrator at a dentistry firm drawing teeth, and the producer’s cousin who was sweeping floors at the studio?  You get Meco’s “Christmas In the Stars – Star Wars Christmas Album.”

     Domenico (Meco) Monardo, Harold Wheeler, Maury Yeston, Ralph McQuarrie, John Bongiovi (better known as Jon Bon Jovi) combined their talents in November 1980 to create one of the most unique Christmas record albums we have discovered – “Christmas In The Stars – Star Wars Christmas Album.”

Domenico (Meco) Monardo

     Meco and producer Tony Bongiovi  (whose Power Station Studios in Manhattan would become the world famous studio of choice by such artists as Madonna, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, and many others) brought together a cast of truly gifted individuals in the creation of the recording.  Maury Yeston, an accomplished broadway composer and respected educator, penned all the original music for the album.  Harold Wheeler, a reknowned music arranger who had worked with Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Whitney Houston (among others) and received numerous Tony Award nominations, was tagged as the arranger.  Ralph McQuarrie famous for his artwork and illustrations for Star Trek, Back to the Future, Battlestar Gallactica, and, of course, Star Wars, would create the cover art.  And, yes, Meco’s young cousin who was sweeping floors at the studio, Jon Bongiovi (Bon Jovi) would provide the lead vocal on the track “R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”



Maury Yeston



Harold Wheeler



     The album was one of the industry’s first non classical, non jazz releases to be recorded and mixed digitally.  It featured sound effects by Lucas Studios together with the original cast members, R2D2 and C3PO (Anthony Daniels).  The first pressing of 150,000 LPs was very successful and plans were made for a subsequent pressing that never materialized as the record company, RSO Records, was forced out of business by a law suit unrelated to the Star Wars Christmas Album project. 

     The following is an excerpt from an interview conducted with Meco by theforce.net regarding the “Christmas In The Stars” project and includes his impressions and reflections of Jon Bon Jovi.

    

Ralph McQuarrie

Interviewer: Another one of your classic albums is Christmas in the Stars. How on earth did you come up with an idea like that?
Meco: That was the same year as the Empire Strikes Back. If you remember, I had made contact earlier with Lucasfilm and so I wrote a letter, nine pages long. It starts: “Dear George, you don’t know me personally but you know who I am…” and I reiterated all the things I had done with Star Wars, blah blah blah, and then I said, “You have some characters who are so much like all the Christmas characters that we all love…” I went into great detail, eventually saying, “I think we should do a Christmas album together”.

And then I had the one and only telephone conversation I ever had with George Lucas. Whoa man! I was I thrilled…excited…nervous! We spoke for probably an hour and in that hour conversation when you would imagine that Meco would speak for 30 minutes and George would speak for 30 minutes, Meco spoke for 54 minutes and George spoke for maybe 6 minutes. He’s the type of guy who listens a lot and doesn’t say too much. I remember the one thing he said to me, “These are the things you can do, and these are the things you cannot do, but the one thing you must not do is kiss the Wookiee” (laughs). So, I was excited, it was going to be fun. They flew in Anthony Daniels from London for a weekend to do his part, but of course he’s not a singer so he basically talks the part.

The biggest surprise of all with that album was, on the day we were recording the horn section, which was assembled in the recording studio Power Station. Suddenly the door opens up and none other than Darth Vader was standing there! He strides ominously through the door! And oh my God we were like…well, nobody said a word. We were speechless!! Nobody knew what to do! Here was Darth Vader. And after a minute or so I understood! Lucasfilm had sent Darth Vader to make sure we did everything right.

 Interviewer: And who better? Really?
Meco: Yeah. And who better! He stayed around for the strings session and it just was a lot of fun.

So, the Christmas record came out on RSO Records around November of 1980, just before the holidays. And they pressed 150,000 copies, which was a huge pressing because of the anticipation of the sales, and I was pretty excited and I thought we had a smash here. Then I get a message from George’s office that said – “George wants to know, Meco, if the credit that’s on the record right now which says: Concept by Meco Monardo, if you wouldn’t mind, if George’s name could be there too”. Now, I had no problem with that except that it shouldn’t be: Concept by Meco Monardo and George Lucas, it had to be: Concept by George Lucas and Meco Monardo. And that change in credit was going to be on the next pressing. Well, a few of weeks later, I just happened to go up to the RSO office to see how things were going. I was shocked to see that the doors to the office were closed by the Sheriff’s Office! It turned out that RSO Records was no longer a record company anywhere in the world. They had shut their doors, which was totally unheard of. And why would they do that? Because their number one act, the Bee Gees, threatened to sue them. So rather than go through all that, they just closed their doors. And when they closed their doors, there went the (second pressing of the) Star Wars Christmas album.

Interviewer: So that was the only print run then, the first 150,000 copies?

Meco: Yes. It might have sold 500,000 or a million copies, who knows!
Interviewer: That record, Christmas in the Stars, features a very early recording of someone you’ve already mentioned, a very young Jon Bon Jovi. Was he a big Star Wars fan in those days?

Tony Bongiovi



The Creative Talent



Meco: No. But here’s how that came about. My co-producer was Tony Bongiovi. Jon Bon Jovi was his little cousin and by little I mean we were all in our 30s and early 40s but Jon at that time was 17 years old. And we were in the studio called Power Station – which is the studio that Star Wars built by the way – the first royalty cheque Tony got, he built the Power Station. The Power Station is a legend in the record business. In those days, the late 70s and early 80s, probably 40 out of the top 100 albums were recorded at the Power Station. So, here you have his little cousin who was on salary sweeping the floors. And I was stuck on this one song. I had three different people come in to sing it and I didn’t like the way any of them sounded. Tony says to me, “Why don’t you try little Jon”. Well, all right, let’s try him. And after just the first few notes out of his mouth I said, “Yes! This is him. This is the one! This is the one who should sing it”. He had this cute little voice – he was still a kid, and his voice really hadn’t even come down in pitch yet. It was still a little high but he had a great feeling for it. And of course, we all know what this little kid went on to do – he became one of the biggest rock and roll stars of all time.

Jon Bon Jovi – 1977

It’s interesting that after we finished recording and we were walking up the street together I said, “What are your aspirations about music”? He said, “Well, I don’t really know”. I said, “You don’t know? You don’t want to be a star of some sort? You don’t want to sing”?

“Well maybe”, he said.

I said, “I’ll tell you what you need to do. You need to sing because you’re going to be the biggest star you can possibly imagine if you ever decide to do this full time”. He says, “Yeah right…” (laughs) And we all know he became just that.

Interviewer: So you weren’t surprised at all at how successful he eventually became.

Meco: Not at all. Because I got to hear him in his very, very infantile, raw stage and it was there, the magic was there. That’s what happens. That’s what you need to possess as a singer – magic. You don’t need to be perfect in how you do it, you can be raw and not perfect in pitch, but you’ve got to have magic. All the great stars and all the great singers have it – magic.

    

     So, there we have it…the story of a very unique Christmas record.

Christmas In The Stars – Star Wars Christmas Album

Album Concept:

Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, and Lance Quinn

Produced By:

Harold Wheeler, Lance Quinn, and Lance Quinn

Arranged By:

Harold Wheeler, Lance Quinn, and Meco Monardo

Side One:

Christmas In The Stars

Bells, Bells, Bells

The Odds Against Christmas

What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?)

R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Side Two:

Sleigh Ride

Merry, Merry Christmas

A Christmas Sighting (‘Twas The Night Before Christmas)

The Meaning of Christmas

Drums:

Allen Schwarzbert, Jimmy Young

Bass:

Jay Leonhart

Guitar:

Lance Quinn, Don Arnone

Keyboards:

Harold Wheeler, Derek Smith, Pat Rebiollot

Percussion:

Dave Carey, Maury Yeston, Tony Bingo, George Devins

Trumpets:

Bob Millikin, John Gatchell, Danny Cahn

Trombones:

Wayne Andre, Tony Studd, Dave Taylor, Paul Faulise

Reeds:

George Marge, Phil Bodner, Eddie Daniels, John Campo, Al Regni, Anne Sheedy, Romeo Penque

French Horns:

Peter Gordon, Jim Buffington, John Clark

Violins:

Guy Lumia, Tony Posk, Lou Eley, Paul Gersman, Aaron Rosand, Sanford Allen, Matthew Raimondi, Gerald Tarack, Joe Malignaggi, Marvin Morgenstern, Harry Cykman, Walter Brewus

Violas:

Richard Maximoff, Harold Coletta, Harry Zaratzian, Oliva Koppell

Celli:

Jesse Levy, Seymour Barab, Avron Coleman, John Beal, Homer Mensch

Harp:

Margaret Toss

Lead Vocals By:

Anthony Daniels as C3PO, Maury Yeston, Rod McBrien, John Bongiovi

Background Vocals By:

Rod McBrien, Fred Stark,m Arlene Martell, Phil McAlpine, Marlene VerPlanck, Bill Marine, Annette Saunders, Lennie roberts, Janet Burnham, Ron Marxhall and the Bridgewater Raritan High School West Advanced Choir

R2’s Christmas Message Sung By:

Jake Yeston, Marney and Ivy Alexenburg (courtesy of Handshake Records), Stacy and Dori Greenberg (courtesy of Mirage Records), Ricky Haayen (courtesy of Polydor Records), Donald Oriolo Jr., Arthur Boller, Russell Poses, Scot Randell, Roddy McBrien, Jessica Taylor

Concepts for R2’s Sleigh Ride:

Meco Monardo and Maury Yeston

Recorded At:

Power Station, New York, NY

Additional Recording:

Celebration Studio, NY, NY; Kingdom Sound, Syosset, NY

Engineered By:

Scott Litt, Piers Plaskett, Clay Hutchinson, Jason Corsaro

Mixed By:

Tony Bongiovi and Scott Litt at Power Station

Sound Effects By:

Ben Burtt, courtesy of Lucasfilms Ltd.

Mastered At:

Sterling Sound, NY, NY by Greg Calbi

Recorded On:

A Sony 1600 PCM Digital Recorder

Manufactured and Marketed by RSO Records Inc.  Distributed by Polygram Distribution, Inc.

This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

January 6 – Epiphany

     Every year when I turn the calendar to January, I see on January 6 the word, “Epiphany”.  I have wondered what is the Epihany?  If you have wondered, read on.

     Officially called “The Epiphany of the Lord,” this feast celebrates the epiphany (manifestation) of Christ to the Gentiles, symbolized by Christ’s manifestation to the Magi (Wise Men). The feast originally was more closely connected to Jesus’ baptism, the primary theme of the feast in Eastern Churches to this day. In addition, other manifestations of Christ were often commemorated during Epiphany, including the miracle at Cana. In fact, it has been asserted that the Baptism of the Lord, the adoration of the infant Jesus by the Magi, and the miracle at Cana all historically occurred on January 6 (see Abbot Gueranger’s works). Whether this is true is contested, but either way, the Epiphany solemnity is celebrated on January 6, which falls within Christmastide. In some Catholic regions, the feast is translated to a Sunday. The Eastern Churches often call the holiday Theophany, which means “manifestation of God.” Eastern Christians also refer to the Epiphany as “Holy Lights” because they baptize on this day, and baptism brings about illumination. Traditionally, Epiphany marked the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
     The story of the Magi traveling from the East to see the Christ child appears only in the Gospel According to St. Matthew. The word Magi, in Greek magoi, comes from the Latin word meaning “sage.” These particular sages were possibly Zoroastrian astrologers from Persia. Upon seeing a star rising in the East (the Star of Bethlehem), they realized it was a sign that the king of the Jews had been born. According to St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. AD 107), the star shone with an inexpressible brilliance, and the sun, moon, and other stars all formed a chorus around the special star (Letter to the Ephesians, 19). The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem of Judea, and to Jesus’ dwelling there. Having arrived, they worshipped the infant Jesus, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
There have been numerous traditions that have grown up about the Wise Men. Typically we think of there being three wise men because of the number of gifts, but Matthew doesn’t tell us the exact number. Since the 3rd century, Christian writers have referred to them as kings, even though Matthew doesn’t specifically tell us that they were royalty. Their names in the West Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior, and Balthasar date to the 6th century. The names mean: Master-of-Treasure, King, and Protect-the-King, respectively..
     St. Bede the Venerable fills in a few gaps, providing colorful details about the Magi:
The first was called Melchior. He was an old man, with white hair and a long beard; he offered gold to the Lord as to his King. The second, Gaspar by name, young, beardless, of ruddy hue, offered to Jesus his gift of incense, the homage due to Divinity. The third, of black complexion, with heavy beard, was middle-aged and called Balthasar. The myrrh he held in his hand prefigured the death of the son of Man (see The Catholic Source Book).
St. Bede hints that the magi represent different races, an idea that was further developed around the 14th century, in which the wise men were said to represent the three known races of the time, European, Asian, and African. According to another legend, St. Thomas the Apostle visited the Magi, and after catechizing them, he initiated them into the Christian faith. Eventually the Wise Men were ordained priests and then bishops. Near the end of their lives, the Christmas Star revisited them, this time bringing them together for a final reunion. The information provided by Bede, and this legend, are interesting but historically unreliable.
     Epiphany is an ancient feast, dating to the 3rd century in the East. In the East, the Epiphany feast pre-dates the Christmas feast, although the West knew of the Nativity Feast before the Epiphany feast. Originally the Epiphany celebrated the Baptism of Christ. The birth of Christ was often tied to the Epiphany. The Church in Jerusalem celebrated Christ’s Nativity on January 6 until AD 549. St. Epiphanius (d. AD 403) also lists the Epiphany as the date of the celebration of Christ’s birth. However, the Apostolic Constitutions (c AD 380) mandates the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25th, and his Epiphany on January 6 (see Book V:III:XIII). In the Armenian Church today, January 6 is the only day celebrating Christ’s Incarnation. The Epiphany feast was introduced in the Western Church by the 4th century, but the connection between the feast and Christ’s baptism was gradually lost. The Western observance of the feast soon became associated with the visit of the Wise Men. In the West, the Feast of Jesus’ baptism is a separate holy day, and currently falls on the Sunday following Epiphany. In the East, the feast of the Nativity and the Epiphany gradually became two distinct feasts.
     Various customs have developed around Epiphany. In the East, there is a solemn blessing of water. In the West, in the Middle Ages, houses were blessed on Epiphany. Holy water was sprinkled in each room. The whole family was involved. The father led the procession with a shovel of charcoal on which he burned incense and the oldest son had the bowl of holy water. The rest of the family followed along saying the rosary and/or singing hymns. While the father and oldest son were incensing and blessing the house, the youngest child carried a plate of chalk. The chalk had been blessed with a special blessing after morning Mass. The father took the blessed chalk and wrote over every room that led outside: 20 + C + M + B + 08 which stands for “Anno Domini 2008 — Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar” and means “The three Holy Kings, Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, in the year of Our Lord, 2008” or whatever the year may be. The letters C, M, and B are also thought to stand for Christus mansionem benedicat, meaning “Christ bless this home.” This tradition of blessing the doorways symbolizes the family’s commitment to welcome Christ into their homes on a daily basis through the year.
     Today many Christians celebrate Epiphany, including Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists. However, many Christians have yet to be introduced to the Epiphany feast, as it falls in the empty space between Christmas and Easter that exists in many non-Catholic churches. 
     So, now we know.  The next time I flip a calendar to January 6, I will think not only that it is my mother’s birthday but will also know what that word “Epiphany”  is all about.

Liturgical Color(s): White
Type of Holiday: Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation
Time of Year: January 6
Duration: One Day (or an entire octave in older custom)
Celebrates/Symbolizes: Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles; Visit of the Magi (West); Christ’s baptism (East)
Alternate Names: Theophany, Holy Lights, King’s Feast
Scriptural References: Matthew 2:1-12; Matthew 3:13-17

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