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Curious to understand the liturgical season of Epiphany? We’ve got answers to your questions. We’ll help you have an epiphany about, well, Epiphany.
Wise Ones Still Seek
01
Epiphany comes from the Greek word "epiphaneia," which means "manifestation."The time of the liturgical year that we call Epiphany is also sometimes called Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings’ Day.
Epiphany is a Christian holiday commemorating the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his first miracle, at Cana in Galilee.
The Epiphany feast is one of the three principal and oldest festival days of the Christian church (the other two are Easter and Christmas). Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Western churches observe the feast on January 6.
02
The story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi or Three Kings) visiting the infant Jesus shortly after his birth in Bethlehem is a well-known feature of the Nativity story. The only account of the visit of the Wise Men is found in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew tells us that "wise men from the east" came to Jerusalem, asking the king of Judea, Herod, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?’" Word had already spread that the Messiah, whose coming fulfilled the old prophecy, had been born. The wise men claimed that they had seen "his star in the east" and have come to worship him.
Generally, we reference three men, but Matthew doesn’t actually mention their number. The assumption is that there were three because they brought Jesus three gifts: the famous trio of gold, frankincense (an aromatic resin used in perfumes and incense: the word is French and literally means ‘high-quality incense’), and myrrh (a gum resin used in incense and perfume, as well as for medicinal reasons).
This meeting with the three kings is considered the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.
03
In the Western church, the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. The time between December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries in many countries, and children often receive small gifts in their shoes in honor of the Magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus. The holiday also has a number of traditions involving water as a reflection of Jesus’ baptism, including the blessing of houses with holy water.
04
Some Churches celebrate use Epiphany to celebrate and remember both the visit of the Wise Men and Jesus's Baptism.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, Epiphany is also known as '"The festival of the three Magic Kings" - "Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages." It is common that this is when children receive their presents - as they are delivered by the Three Kings.
In France you might eat a "Galette des Rois," a type of flat almond cake. It has a toy crown cooked inside it and is decorated on top with a gold paper crown.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, on Epiphany/King's Day, the Christmas Tree is either take down or the ornaments are replaced with Purple, Gold and Green ones and it's then called a "Mardi Gras Tree." People also like to eat King Cake (a cinnamon pastry with sugar on the top and sometimes filled with cream cheese or jelly/jam). The King Cake will have a little baby plastic doll inside (which represents Jesus); whoever gets the piece with the baby has to supply the next King Cake.
