A Revels Twelfth Night Celebration

Christmas may have passed, but the celebrations are not quite over. This Saturday, the Revels will perform their annual  at St. John's United Methodist Church in Watertown from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The show includes a carol sing, family dancing, mumming, crafts for children, and much more. 

The Revels’ unique blend of music, dance, and theater based on seasonal traditions dates back to 1971, and audience participation is always encouraged, according to Michelle Roderick, Revels Education Director.  

"It is very family oriented," she says. "The children and parents take part in the celebration, rather than just be entertained. They have a sing along and a family dance, just some of the participation involved."

The performers, a mix of professionals and amateurs, have just completed 16 performances of the Christmas Revels at the Sanders Theater in Cambridge. Some of the elements from those shows will carry into the Watertown performance.

"We sing some of the same carols for Twelfth Night, and the children’s cast usually sings one of their songs as well," says Roderick.

Each year, different children perform in the Mummers play and engage in a sword dance. (Don’t worry. It’s safe.) But perhaps the most popular elements of the show, Roderick says, is the visit from Father Christmas and the acting out of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

"[The performance is] complete with all 78 silver 'gifts' being given to the King or Queen — a child — that is picked earlier that day during the Bean Cake ritual, where one child gets a bean in his/her cake from Father Christmas and is crowned for the day," Roderick said.

Editor's Note: Tickets to the performance has been sold out.