Twelfth Night History: King’s Cake

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Twelfth Night Festival 3
Both the French and English kings’ official duties end on Twelfth Night. A cake called King’s cake: Galette du Roi (pron. ga-LEHT DEW ROO-WAH) is eaten. In Wales on Christmas Eve a bowl of hot beer, sweetened with sugar and flavored with spices, is prepared by the man of the house. The lady of the house bakes a large cake with a hole in the center and places it in a basket decorated with evergreens, holly, and ivy-wreaths. A procession is formed. She puts the cake on the horns of an ox and he stirs the beer, drinks a mouthful, and passes the bowl on after the fashion of the loving-cup. A toast is sung. Wine and ale is consumed. Cake is a symbol of the Goddess. The bulls horns symbolize her consort and ale and wine is spirit. This is the origin of communion. If the ox is peaceful, it is good luck for the year. If, he is angry, bad luck follows. (1, 2, 7)