James I (of England) and VI (of Scotland) knew what he wanted to bring the season to a grand finale: a new comedy, by his favorite playwright, a Mr. W. Shakespeare. Shake responded with his usual alacrity, and produced a play titled, not surprisingly, "Twelfth Night." It was performed for the first time on January 6, 1601, in the court of Whitehall Palace; and, according to Harold Bloom, the playwright himself might have played one of the parts.
This is also the Feast of Epiphany, the day in which the Magi (or Wise Men or Three Kings) arrived at the stable in Bethlehem, having followed the mysterious star from the east. There are two wonderful books one might read at this time: "Journey of the Magi" by Paul William Roberts and "The Four Wise Men" by Michel Tournier.
The poem almost everyone knows is T.S. Eliot's "Journey of the Magi" ("a cold coming we had of it...") but one we remember with pleasure is a lighthearted account in which the Magi leave a camel for the Holy Child and his friends to ride and play with.
A splendid day to all, and especially those wondering if they should take down their Christmas tree now, or leave it up until next December.
Alas! you have dashed a cherished illusion, sir. I was led to believe the four Magi to be insurance agents from (respectively) AIG (Assyrian Insurance Group), Mutual of Ashurbanipal, State Oasis and Bibliomancers' Life.
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