Rejoice in the celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas,
as they did in Elizabethan times.
The Christmas season or Christmastide runs the twelve days from December 24 to January 6; that is Christmas Eve to Epiphany or Twelfth Day. The evening of day is call Twelfth Night and is the last party of the season. This year's festival will take place on the actual twelfth night of Christmas, January 6th.
Join us as we celebrate the story of Christmas as perhaps once done in an Elizabethan Manor. Our sanctuary will be transformed into an English manor with candlelight, banners, trees, and crests. The Lord and Layde of the manor will welcome guests to share in this festive celebration and the story of the Nativity.
In medieval times, the boar was a symbol of evil, the "king" of the great forests, and a ferocious menacing animal to man. The presentation of the boar's head at Christmas symbolized good over evil. The church endowed this custom with symbolic meaning, transforming it to the worship of God, and the triumph of Christ over evil. The ceremony of the boar's head became a part of Christmas celebrations in the great manors throughout the middle ages. Here at URC, we
have made this festival one of our own beloved Christmas traditions.
You will see and hear through pageantry and song, a 125-member cast, in Elizabethan and Biblical costumes present vocal and instrumental music including handbells, bag pipes, drums, organ, brass, flute and harp. Cast members include members of United Reformed Church, Bernardsville United Methodist Church, Peapack Reformed Church, Westminster Choir College, Rutgers University, Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums, local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and the Somerville Middle School Select Choir.
The 2019 Twelfth Night Boar's Head Festival is directed by URC's Music Director, F. Paul Dickey, Larry J. Carey, Music Director at Peapack Reformed Church and Linda Hayes, Deacon at United Reformed Church. Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no charge for admission, as this is our gift to the community, however a free-will offering will be taken.
To keep up with updates about the festival throughout the year, follow the Facebook page; facebook/urctwelfthnight
