Epiphany is a Christian holiday which commemorates the revelation of God, embodied in the form of man, that is Jesus. In Western Christianity, the holiday focuses on the visit of the Magi (three kings) following the birth of Christ and the physical manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The holiday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Epiphanytide, the season before Christmas. Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
Epiphany (from the Greek word epiphaneia, “manifestation”) is also known as Three Kings Day, Theophany, or Little Christmas. This is a holiday that focuses on the incarnation and manifestation of Christ as man. The holiday dates back further before the beginning of Christmas. Christmas stems from the early church’s desire to protect itself from pagan influences surrounding them. Holidays such as the winter solstice that was observed by early Europeans, as a time for the light and birth in the darkest time of winter, became Christmas. The church in Early Europe was surrounded in deep-rooted pagan traditions.
In Scandinavia, December 21st marked the festival of Yule in celebration of the return of the sun after the long winter. People would feast for 12 days during Yule. The end of December would mark the beginning of other pagan festivities. At that time, people would slaughter cattle and other livestock so they would not have to feed them during the winter period. In an effort to convert and establish Christianity, the church had to adopt Christian festivals that would dim the pagan traditions of early Europe.
Generally, Christmas and Epiphany are connected. In the Eastern Church, the commemoration of Christ’s birth brought focus to the account prior to his birth although Christmas was established first. This holiday was recognized as the Nativity of the Lord. The Christmas Proclamation itself hailed from Roman Martyrology (accounts of martyrs). The martyrology would situate the birth of Christ in the context of the sacred history from Abraham to Moses, as well as David and other Prophets. These proclamations reinforced the theme of Christmas. However, Epiphany was not yet recognized as a holiday.
Epiphany seems to have begun around the 4th century. The earliest account of this feast is from Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI: ii) in 361 AD. Ammianus, a historian and Roman soldier from Syria, left reference of the existence of the holiday in his texts. Therefore, based on this knowledge, some scholars believe that the holiday may have existed earlier in Syrian and Alexandrian Churches. Saint Epiphanius (lived from c.310-403) also remarked in his writing that on January 6th, the birth (Epiphany) of Christ was celebrated, as well as the miracle of Cana. St. Gregory of Nazianzus (also referred to as St. Gregory the Theologian in the East) was the first to document the development of Epiphany as a holiday separate from Christmas. On December 25th, in the year 380, he stated that the Church was celebrating Theophany as the period of the holy nativity of Christ. In a sermon, he preached that Epiphany was the time to remember the baptism of Jesus. There is also a historical account of the existence of the holiday in Egypt by St. John Cassian (lived from c.360-435). These references confirm how long the holiday has existed and the reason for celebrating the holiday since ancient times.
In England, the evening before Epiphany is known as the 12th night. This is because according to the church calendar, a new day starts after sunset. As a result, the 12th night is recognized as the beginning of Epiphany itself as it falls on the 12th day after Christmas. The days, starting from December 26th to January 6th, were collectively identified as the Christmas season. This season gave rise to the Western notion of a twelve-day festival that started from December 25th and ended on January 6th. Conversely, Latin Americans adopted a 40-day festival which would begin on December 25th and end on February 2nd.
Over time, the Western church distinguished Christmas (birth of christ) from Epiphany (visit of the Magi). The Catholic Church reinforced the value of the holiday by attaching biblical references to the day. According to the liturgical calendar, the baptism of Jesus occurred on the second Sunday after Epiphany. The first miracle that Jesus performed at the wedding of Cana also took place on the second Sunday after Epiphany. In a sense, these accounts reinforced the value of the holiday to Christians. Whereas Christmas marks the beginning of the Paschal mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, Epiphany marks the good news of the Savior spreading out to all nations. This is represented by the Magi or the three wise men who went out with the news of the birth of Christ. On Epiphany, the Church reaffirms this news through its proclamations.
Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th globally, although different religions and countries practice unique traditions on this day. For instance, the Protestants in the U.S. celebrate this holiday on the Sunday closest to January 6th with a sermon at the church. The holiday then continues up to the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
Catholics, on the other hand, celebrate the holiday on the exact day and the pope delivers a speech from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. After that, priests will deliver short sermons that focus on the baptism of Christ. Eastern Churches also offer sermons based on Baptism. Priests in Greece, Russia, and Bulgaria toss crucifixes into the water and devotees dive to retrieve them.
Some Orthodox churches celebrate the holiday on January 19th. Epiphany, otherwise known as the 12th Day of Christmas, is a day of jubilation across the world. Different communities observe this holiday through unique traditions. Below is a list of countries and their Epiphany traditions:
United States
Epiphany is not a public holiday in the United States. As a result, businesses, public offices, and schools remain open on this day. People in New Orleans bake unique cakes which contain tiny baby figurines inside on this holiday. The idea behind the figurine is that the baby will be revealed just as Jesus was revealed as the Son of God to the wise men.
In the Virgin Islands, people use the holiday as a time to celebrate their culture and indulge in a variety of meals, music, and parades. The Virgin Islands recognize Epiphany as a public holiday and as such, schools, businesses and public offices remain closed during the feast of Epiphany.
Other activities undertaken during the holiday include Star processions on Sunday before January 6th, treasure hunts in search of Baby Jesus, Epiphany luncheons and celebrations, Sunday school activities that focus on Epiphany and many more.
Spain
In Spain, people are treated to colorful parades and festive meals. Additionally, gifts are opened on this day while children pen down letters to the Magi requesting gifts. Additionally, children leave out their shoes filled with hay with the hopes that they will be filled with sweets.
The Czechs also take a cold swim in the Vltava river alongside the Medieval Charles Bridge.
Greece and Cyprus
In Greece, Cyprus, and the surrounding regions, the holiday is commonly referred to as Theophany or Phata. During this holiday, people form a long procession and follow a road that leads to the water. Leading the procession are priests carrying sacred icons and musicians. The procession holds a water sanctification ceremony in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. After the ceremony, a crucifix is thrown in the water and then some of the men in the procession jump in to retrieve it.
Initially, the Greeks were suspicious of the holiday and would burn their shoes before the 12th night. They believed that the smoke from the old shoes would frighten harmful elves.
Germany
In Germany, people celebrate the holiday by smoking out their houses with branches blessed by the church. They would also write the initials of the Magi with blessed chalk in a bid to receive blessings from God.
Belgium
In Belgium, people bake fancy cakes for parties. They also put a bean or a pea in the cakes and if a person finds the bean or pea, they are crowned king and queen. The king and queen would appear before their subjects with paper crowns on their heads and everyone has to obey their orders.
Mexico
In Mexico, people bake a ring-shaped cake in which they keep a tiny doll for a lucky child to find. The hidden baby figurine represents Jesus’ parents move to hide Jesus from King Herod. The shape is baked to resemble a crown. It is known as Rosca de Reyes. Similarly, this tradition is popular in Southern California where whoever finds the baby gets to hold a Feast of Candlemas on February 2nd.
England
In England, celebrations begin on the 12th night. People indulge in a rich fruitcake known as the 12th cake. Spicy foods such as ginger and spiced ale are also popular during this holiday. These meals are costly in the assimilation of Jesus’ costly gifts from the Magi.
Egypt
In Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the holiday to mark the baptism of Jesus and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in his baptism. The holiday falls on the 11th Tobe according to the Coptic calendar and is a strict day of fasting and prayers. Baptism is also carried out on this day, and the priests go to peoples’ houses and bless them with water.
France
In France, people eat the Galette des Rois (the king’s cake) which is a round and flat cake with a golden appearance and almond filling. In Southern France, a fruit-filled crown based brioche is served. Both types of cakes, similar to Belgium, have a plastic figurine called fève. The person who gets the figurine becomes ‘king,’ or ‘queen’ for the day. The winner wears a gold paper crown and has the obligation to offer drinks to everyone around the table. The winner also has to volunteer to host the next King cake celebration at their homes.
In Guadeloupe, Martinique, and other French-speaking regions, Epiphany is not considered the last day of Christmas but rather, the first day of the carnival which lasts until the evening before Ash Wednesday.
The Irish consider Epiphany as Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas. On that day, women would rest from all the cooking and chores during the Christmas holidays. Presently, women dine at a restaurant during the day and may also receive gifts from family members, including children, and grandchildren. People also burn the sprigs of Christmas holly as well as other decorations that were used during the holiday in a fireplace.
Philippines
In the Philippines, children leave their shoes out so that the Kings will leave behind gifts such as candy and money. The holiday is commonly referred to as ‘Three Kings (Tres Reyes).’
Sweden
In Sweden, Epiphany is the day to get rid of Christmas decorations. People hold celebrations to ‘plunder the tree.’ After the party, each guest would get a decoration to take home. The ‘plundered’ trees would be gathered together to create a huge bonfire.
Italy
In Italy, children would leave stockings for Befana to fill with gifts on January 6th. According to legend, Befana is a young girl who saw the Magi pass by but was too busy to go with them. Later, she sought after Baby Jesus and has been wandering in search of Him ever since. An angel told her that since she did not come with the Magi to see Jesus, she must fill the stockings of little children with gifts on the eve of Epiphany. Initially, Befana was angry and left ashes on the stockings of children and later began leaving gifts behind.
There is a similar account in other Spanish-speaking regions. For instance, a young water carrier was instructed to watch for the Magi and he prepared himself by filling his shoes with hay for the Magi camels. However, he fell asleep, and the Magi passed by him and when he woke up in the morning, he found his shoes filled with sweets instead of hay that was there.
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