Русские праздники на английском языке
Обзор русских национальных праздников на английском языке с переводом.
Russian holidays in English
The Russian people are rich in culture and ancient history. Holidays too much. Some of them are still relevant and celebrated.
Trinity
Rooted in the depths of time. It is celebrated after Easter, the fiftieth day, no matter what day of the week. So note the time when the Holy spirit descended to the disciples, who became apostles. This event is described in the book of saints associated with the Trinity, in which God is perceived in three persons, three individuals associated with one: the Father as the origin, the Son is the logos, the Holy Spirit is the beginning, the source of life.
Holy week
These are the last days that precede Easter. Lasts 6 days, from Monday to Saturday in front of a festive Sunday. The main purpose of the holiday – the so-called preparation for Easter. Since ancient times, people cleaned the house, bathed, installed a swing in the yard, paint eggs, baked cakes. It was thought that such beautiful eggs – the magical talismans with their strength. If you singe it with fire, the smoke from such eggs are believed to possess healing properties which can cure from blindness, eases pain in the teeth.
Apple spas
It is easier is called the Transfiguration of the Lord Slavs and more famous now. Celebrate it on August 19. Until that time, it is impossible to eat apples, including dishes from this fruit, juices. But picking fruits in the garden, and the more the better, and then to sanctify them. Sunsets escorted with songs. Savior of the Apple feast is also called the first seninmi. From August 19, you can eat them, entertain all the friends and relatives, orphans, the poor. So to commemorate deceased ancestors. Treat yourself eat last. By evening, all the celebrants gather in a field to see the passing of the Sun and the summer with him.
Yuletide
This is a complex Slavic celebrations. Celebrate it every year from 6th to 19th January. At Christmas time there are a variety of magical rituals, connected with them the chain of events and will take prohibitions. At Christmas time people walk around the villages, were engaged in caroling, a variety of divinations, walked through the guests, doing the rites for a good future for himself and his family. It was believed that from Christmas to Epiphany to kill animals cannot, this unfortunately.
Christmas eve
Refers to the major feasts. also has a rich history and ancient roots. Remember the baptism of Christ in the river. On this day, priests perform the Great illumination of the water. People drink Holy water on an empty stomach. Drink teaspoons gradually. The Orthodox bring home and keep in the Red corner, which is available in every home of believers. Besides, you can take plain water, pour into a container and adding a little Epiphany, so to sanctify it.
Day of Elijah
Now not so widespread, but also refers to the ancient traditional celebrations. It is celebrated on 2 August. In this day decided to cut the bull or RAM and cover a large table for group meals. The holiday has ancient pagan roots, were initially considered for the day of Perun, but then his figure was replaced by Elijah – a prophet who became a symbol of the holiday.
Slavic celebrations carry the roots of the history and customs of the people, they help to better understand their ancestors, because for them, every holiday was of great importance. Noting now, people are keeping the history and attached to it.
Перевод на русский:
У русского народа богатая культура и древняя история. Праздников тоже много. Некоторые из них актуальны до сих пор и отмечаются.
Троица
Корнями уходит в глубину времен. Ее отмечают после Пасхи, в пятидесятый день, неважно какой день недели. Так отмечают время, когда Святой дух снизошел до учеников, ставших апостолами. Это событие описано в книге о святых, связано с Троицей, в которой Бог воспринимается в трех ипостасях, в трех отдельных лицах, связанных с одним: Отец – как начало, Сын – логос, Святой Дух – начало, источник жизни.
Страстная неделя
Это последние дни, предшествующие Пасхе. Длится 6 дней, с понедельника по субботу перед праздничным воскресеньем. Основное назначение праздника – так называемая подготовка к Пасхе. Издревле люди убирали дома, купались, устанавливали качели во дворах, разукрашивали яйца, пекли куличи. Считалось, что такие красивые яйца – волшебные талисманы со своей силой. Если подпалить его огнем, дым от такого яйца обладает исцеляющими свойствами, которые лечат от слепоты, убирает боль в зубах.
Яблочный спас
Так проще называется Преображение Господне славянами и больше известен сейчас. Отмечают его 19 августа. До этого времени нельзя есть яблоки, в том числе блюда из этого фрукта, соки. Но срывать плоды в саду можно и чем больше, тем лучше, а затем освящать их. Провожают закаты с песнями. Яблочный спас еще называют первыми осенинами. С 19 августа их можно есть, угощать всех друзей и родных, сирот, нищих. Так поминают умерших предков. Сами угощающие едят в последнюю очередь. К вечеру все празднующие собираются в поле провожать уходящее Солнце и лето вместе с ним.
Святки
Это целый комплекс славянских празднований. Отмечают его каждый год с 6 по 19 числа января. В Святки происходят самые разные магические обряды, с ними связывали цепь событий и примет, запретов. В Святки люди гуляли селами, занимались колядованием, различными гаданиями, ходили по гостям, делали обряды на хорошее будущее для себя и семьи. Считалось, что с Рождества до Крещения убивать животных нельзя, это к несчастью.
Сочельник
Относится к двунадесятым праздникам. тоже имеет богатую историю и древние корни. Вспоминается крещение Христа, совершенное в реке. В этот день священники совершают Великое освещение воды. Люди пьют крещенскую воду на голодный желудок. Пьют чайными ложками понемногу. Православные приносят домой и хранят в Красном углу, который имеется во всяком доме верующих людей. К тому же, можно взять обычную воду, налить в емкость и добавив немного крещенской, таким образом освятить ее.
Ильин день
Сейчас не так распространен, но тоже относится к древним традиционным празднованиям. Его отмечают 2 августа. В этот день принято резать быка или барана и накрывать большой стол для коллективных трапез. Праздник имеет древние языческие корни, изначально считался днем для Перуна, но потом его фигуру заменили Ильей – пророком, ставшим символом праздника.
Славянские праздники несут в себе корни истории и обычаев народа, они помогают лучше понять своих предков, ведь для них каждый праздник имел огромное значение. Отмечая сейчас, люди хранят историю и приобщаются к ней.
Похожие материалы:
- Праздники на английском языке с переводом
- Мой любимый праздник на английском языке
- Про праздники на английском языке
- Необычный праздник на английском языке
- Праздники в Англии на английском языке
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Крещение Господне
19 января Православной Церковью празднуется Крещение Господне. Это один из самых древних праздников христианской Церкви. Древнее название праздника — «Епифания». Накануне праздника верующие люди соблюдают строгий пост, а в храмах освящается вода. Когда человек омывается освещенной водой в этот день, это означает, что душа человека освобождается от грехов.
On January 19 the Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. It is one of the most ancient holidays of Christian Church. The ancient name of a holiday is «Epiphanius». On the eve of holiday the believers follow a strict fast, and in temples water is consecrated. When the person is washed by the consecrated water this day, it means that the soul of the person is exempted from sins.
человек
[chilavèk]
—
man, person
церковь
[tserkov’]
—
Church
праздник
[pràznik]
—
celebration, holiday, festival
крещение
[krisshènije]
—
christening
Представлена подборка сочинений о Праздниках на английском языке с переводом на русский язык.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
Перевод «праздник Крещение» на английский
Двунадесятый праздник Крещение Господне ежегодно отмечается 19 января.
Twelve Great Feast The baptism of the Lord is annually celebrated on January 19th.
А в зимнее время на праздник Крещение Господне в монастырь приезжают около 50 тысяч человек.
And in the winter time for the holiday of the Epiphany to the monastery come about 50 thousand people.
Другие результаты
Он поздравил горожан и напомнил о духовном смысле праздника Крещения.
He congratulated the citizens and reminded the spiritual meaning of the feast of Baptism.
На территории монастыря также находится озеро, где проходит подготовка к празднику Крещения.
On the territory of the convent there is also a lake where are under way preparations for the feast of the Epiphany.
Купание в проруби остается самым актуальным обрядом в великий праздник Крещения Господня.
Bathing in the hole remains the most important ritual on the great feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Главный обряд праздника Крещения — освящение воды в церквях.
The main ceremony of Epiphany — Blessing of the Waters in the churches.
После праздника Крещения Господня мы надеемся открыть миссионерские курсы.
С праздником Крещения не случайно связано много поверий, которые связаны с судьбой человека.
With the feast of the Epiphany is not a coincidence involves a lot of beliefs that are associated with the destiny of man.
Профессиональная команда ресторана «Пеликанас» готова помочь Вам организовать незабываемый романтический ужин, свадебное торжество, праздник крещения или деловую встречу.
Our professional team is ready to prepare for you an unforgettable romantic dinner, a wedding party, a baptism celebration or a business meeting.
Правила купания в праздник Крещения Господне: как безопасно окунуться в прорубь
The rules of bathing on Baptism: how to safely plunge into the hole
Мне не забыть, как первым моим послушанием в храме стала раздача прихожанам святой воды в праздник Крещения Господня.
I cannot forget that my first task in church was distributing holy water to the parishioners on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Сейчас праздник Крещения, хотя и без всех древних обрядов, традиционно массово празднуют во всех регионах Украины.
Nowadays, the Feast of the Epiphany, although without all the ancient rites, is traditionally celebrated in every region of Ukraine.
Поскольку праздник Крещения Господня выпадает на выходные дни,…
Удобных раздевалок и оборудованных сходов к воде пока нет, но это не мешает сотням верующих окунуться в освященную воду в прорубях на праздник Крещения.
There are no comfortable changing rooms or convenient ramps to approach the water yet, but this does not prevent hundreds of believers from bathing in the ice holes on the holiday of the Epiphany.
Малое освящение дома проводят не только после праздника Крещения — его можно совершать всякий раз, когда в этом есть нужда.
The lesser house blessing is not only done after the feast of Theophany-it can be done any time there is a need.
Здание этих купален окружено бассейном, который даже сейчас один раз в год наполняют водой для проведения многочисленной церемонии во время праздника Крещения.
The building of these swimming baths is surrounded by a swimming pool, which even now is filled with water once a year in order to perform the ceremony on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Через него в праздник Крещения Господня императорская семья и высшее духовенство выходило к проруби в Неве.
Through him on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the imperial family and the highest clergy went out to the hole in the Neva.
Фильм показывает повседневную жизнь Росе, а также обряды в честь праздника Крещения, совершаемые в деревне ежегодно.
The film shows the day-to-day life of Rose, as well as the rites performed in the village every year on the occasion of the feast of Epiphany.
Праздник Крещения будет праздноваться на Малой Кокшаге.
Сотрудники МЧС начали замерять толщину льда в местах оборудования иорданей для купания в праздник Крещения Господня.
Employees of the Ministry of emergency situations began to check the thickness of the ice in places Jordan equipment for swimming in the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Результатов: 170. Точных совпадений: 2. Затраченное время: 95 мс
Documents
Корпоративные решения
Спряжение
Синонимы
Корректор
Справка и о нас
Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
Индекс выражения: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Индекс фразы: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
This article is about the Christian feast day. For other uses, see Epiphany.
| Epiphany | |
|---|---|
The Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones (1904) |
|
| Also called | Baptism of Jesus, Three Kings Day, Denha, Little Christmas, Theophany, Timkat, Reyes |
| Observed by | Christians |
| Type | Church service, winter swimming, chalking the door, house blessings, star singing |
| Significance |
|
| Date |
|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to |
|
Epiphany ( ə-PIF-ə-nee), (also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian tradition[1]) is a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and the Miracle at Cana.[2]
In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ’s physical manifestation to the Gentiles.[3][4] It is sometimes called Three Kings’ Day, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas.[5] Moreover, the feast of the Epiphany, in some denominations, also initiates the liturgical season of Epiphanytide.[6][7]
Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.[2] The spot marked by Al-Maghtas in Jordan, adjacent to Qasr al-Yahud in the West Bank, is considered to be the original site of the baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.[8][9]
The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1. Those Eastern Churches which are still following the Julian calendar observe the feast on what, according to the internationally used Gregorian calendar, is January 19,[10] because of the current 13-day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.[11]
In many Western Churches, the eve of the feast is celebrated as Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve).[12][13] The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.[14]
Popular Epiphany customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, having one’s house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, as well as attending church services.[15] It is customary for Christians in many localities to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve (Twelfth Night),[16] although those in other Christian countries historically remove them on Candlemas, the conclusion of Epiphanytide.[17][18] According to the first tradition, those who fail to remember to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve must leave them untouched until Candlemas, the second opportunity to remove them; failure to observe this custom is considered inauspicious.[19][20]
Etymology and original word usage[edit]
The word Epiphany is from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epipháneia, meaning manifestation or appearance. It is derived from the verb φαίνειν, phainein, meaning «to appear».[21] In classical Greek it was used for the appearance of dawn, of an enemy in war, but especially of a manifestation of a deity to a worshiper (a theophany). In the Septuagint the word is used of a manifestation of the God of Israel (2 Maccabees 15:27).[22] In the New Testament the word is used in 2 Timothy 1:10 to refer either to the birth of Christ or to his appearance after his resurrection, and five times to refer to his Second Coming.[22]
Alternative names for the feast in Greek include τα Θεοφάνεια, ta Theopháneia «Theophany» (a neuter plural rather than feminine singular), η Ημέρα των Φώτων, i Iméra ton Fóton (modern Greek pronunciation), «The Day of the Lights», and τα Φώτα, ta Fóta, «The Lights».[23]
History[edit]
Epiphany may have originated in the Greek-speaking eastern half of the Roman Empire as a feast to honor the baptism of Jesus. Around 200, Clement of Alexandria wrote that, «But the followers of [the early Christian Gnostic religious teacher] Basilides celebrate the day of His Baptism too, spending the previous night in readings. And they say that it was the 15th of the month Tybi of the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. And some say that it was observed the 11th of the same month.» The Egyptian dates given correspond to January 6 and 10.[24] The Basilides were a Gnostic sect.
The reference to «readings» suggests that the Basilides were reading the Gospels. In ancient gospel manuscripts, the text is arranged to indicate passages for liturgical readings. If a congregation began reading Mark at the beginning of the year, it might arrive at the story of the Baptism on January 6, thus explaining the date of the feast.[25][26] If Christians read Mark in the same format the Basilides did, the two groups could have arrived at the January 6 date independently.[27]
The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by Ammianus Marcellinus.[28] The holiday is listed twice, which suggests a double feast of baptism and birth.[24] The baptism of Jesus was originally assigned to the same date as the birth because Luke 3:23 was misread to mean that Jesus was exactly 30 when he was baptized.
Epiphanius of Salamis says that January 6 is Christ’s «Birthday; that is, His Epiphany» (hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion).[29] He also asserts that the Miracle at Cana occurred on the same calendar day.[30] Epiphanius assigns the Baptism to November 6.[24]
The scope to Epiphany expanded to include the commemoration of his birth; the visit of the magi, all of Jesus’ childhood events, up to and including the Baptism by John the Baptist; and even the miracle at the wedding at Cana in Galilee.[31]
In the Latin-speaking West, the holiday emphasized the visit of the magi. The magi represented the non-Jewish peoples of the world, so this was considered a «revelation to the gentiles.»[32] In this event, Christian writers also inferred a revelation to the Children of Israel. John Chrysostom identified the significance of the meeting between the magi and Herod’s court: «The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews. In this way the birth of Jesus would be made known to all.»[33]
In 385, the pilgrim Egeria (also known as Silvia) described a celebration in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which she called «Epiphany» that commemorated the Nativity.[34] Even at this early date, there was an octave associated with the feast.
In a sermon delivered on December 25, 380, St. Gregory of Nazianzus referred to the day as «the Theophany» (ta theophania, formerly the name of a pagan festival at Delphi),[35] saying expressly that it is a day commemorating «the holy nativity of Christ» and told his listeners that they would soon be celebrating the baptism of Christ.[36] Then, on January 6 and 7, he preached two more sermons,[37] in which he declared that the celebration of the birth of Christ and the visitation of the Magi had already taken place, and that they would now commemorate his Baptism.[38] At this time, celebration of the two events was beginning to be observed on separate occasions, at least in Cappadocia.
Saint John Cassian says that even in his time (beginning of the 5th century), Egyptian monasteries celebrated the Nativity and the Baptism together on January 6.[39] The Armenian Apostolic Church continues to celebrate January 6 as the only commemoration of the Nativity.
Music[edit]
Classical[edit]
Johann Sebastian Bach composed in Leipzig two cantatas for the feast which concluded Christmastide:
- Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, (1724)[40]
- Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123, (1725)[41]
Part VI of his Christmas Oratorio, Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, was also designated to be performed during the service for Epiphany.[42]
In Ottorino Respighi’s symphonic tone poem Roman Festivals, the final movement is subtitled «Bofana» and takes place during Epiphany.
Carols and hymns[edit]
«Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit» is a German Epiphany hymn by Georg Weissel, first printed in 1642.
Two very familiar Christmas carols are associated with the Epiphany holiday: «As with gladness, men of old», written by William Chatterton Dix in 1860 as a response to the many legends which had grown up surrounding the Magi;[43][44] and «We Three Kings of Orient Are», written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr. – then an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church[45] – who was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant (which featured this hymn) for the students of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857 while serving as the seminary’s music director.
Another popular hymn, less known culturally as a carol, is «Songs of thankfulness and praise», with words written by Christopher Wordsworth and commonly sung to the tune «St. Edmund» by Charles Steggall.
A carol used as an anthem for the Epiphany holiday is «The Three Kings».
Date of the celebration[edit]
Holy (Epiphany) water vessel from 15th–16th centuries. It is found on Hisar near the town of Leskovac, Serbia. Photographed in National museum of Leskovac.
Until 1955, when Pope Pius XII abolished all but three liturgical octaves, the Latin Church celebrated Epiphany as an eight-day feast, known as the Octave of Epiphany, beginning on January 6 and ending on January 13. The Sunday within that octave had been since 1893 the feast of the Holy Family, and Christmastide was reckoned as the twelve days ending on January 5, followed by the January 6–13 octave. The 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar made the date variable to some extent, stating: «The Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on 6 January, unless, where it is not observed as a holy day of obligation, it has been assigned to the Sunday occurring between 2 and 8 January.»[46] It also made the Feast of the Epiphany part of Christmas Time, which it defined as extending from the First Vespers of Christmas (the evening of December 24) up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany (the Sunday after January 6).[47]
Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist and United Protestant congregations, along with those of other denominations, may celebrate Epiphany on January 6, on the following Sunday within the Epiphany week (octave), or at another time (Epiphany Eve January 5, the nearest Sunday, etc.) as local custom dictates.[48][49] Prior to 1976, Anglican churches observed an eight-day octave, beginning on January 6. Today, The Epiphany of our Lord,[50] classified as a Principal Feast, is observed in some Anglican provinces on January 6 exclusively (e.g., the Anglican Church of Canada)[50] but in the Church of England the celebration is «on 6 January or transferred to the Sunday falling between 2 and 8 January».[51]
Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany (Theophany) on January 6. Some, as in Greece, employ the modern Revised Julian calendar, which until 2800 coincides with the Gregorian calendar, the one in use for civil purposes in most countries. Other Eastern churches, as in Russia, hold to the older Julian calendar for reckoning church dates. In these old-calendar churches Epiphany falls at present on Gregorian January 19 – which is January 6 in the Julian calendar.
The Indian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Epiphany, Denaha [Syriac term which means rising] on January 6, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates on January 19 as the Timkath festival, which was included in the UNESCO heritage list of festivals.
Epiphany season[edit]
In some Churches, the feast of the Epiphany initiates the Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide.
In Advent 2000, the Church of England, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, introduced into its liturgy an optional Epiphany season by approving the Common Worship series of services as an alternative to those in the Book of Common Prayer, which remains the Church’s normative liturgy and in which no such liturgical season appears. An official publication of the Church of England states: «The Christmas season is often celebrated for twelve days, ending with the Epiphany. Contemporary use has sought to express an alternative tradition, in which Christmas lasts for a full forty days, ending with the Feast of the Presentation on 2 February.»[52] It presents the latter part of this period as the Epiphany season, comprising the Sundays of Epiphany and ending «only with the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)».[53]
Another interpretation of «Epiphany season» applies the term to the period from Epiphany to the day before Ash Wednesday. Some Methodists in the United States and Singapore follow these liturgies.[6][54] Lutherans celebrate the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday as the Transfiguration of our Lord, and it has been said that they call the whole period from Epiphany to then as Epiphany season.[55] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America used the terms «Time after Epiphany» to refer to this period.[56] The expression with «after» has been interpreted as making the period in question correspond to that of Ordinary Time.[57][58]
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) does not celebrate Epiphany or Pentecost as seasons; for this Church, expressions such as «Fifth Sunday after Epiphany» indicate the passing of time, rather than a liturgical season. It instead uses the term «Ordinary Time».[59]
In the Catholic Church, «Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after 6 January»;[47] and «Ordinary Time begins on the Monday which follows the Sunday occurring after 6 January».[60] Before the 1969 revision of its liturgy, the Sundays following the Octave of Epiphany or, when this was abolished, following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which was instituted to take the place of the Octave Day of Epiphany were named as the «Second (etc., up to Sixth) Sunday after Epiphany», as the at least 24 Sundays following Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday were known as the «Second (etc.) Sunday after Pentecost». (If a year had more than 24 Sundays after Pentecost, up to four unused post-Epiphany Sundays were inserted between the 23rd and the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.) The Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices, which has received the imprimatur of John Michael D’Arcy, with reference to Epiphanytide, thus states that «The Epiphany season extends from January 6 to Septuagesima Sunday, and has from one to six Sundays, according to the date of Easter. White is the color for the octave; green is the liturgical color for the season.»[61]
Epiphany in different Christian traditions[edit]
Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi, with only a minor reference to the baptism of Jesus and the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation. The miracle at the Wedding at Cana is also celebrated during Epiphany as a first manifestation of Christ’s public life.[62]
Western churches[edit]
K † M † B † 2009 written on a door of a rectory in a Czech village, to bless the house by Christ
Even before 354,[63] the Western Church had separated the celebration of the Nativity of Christ as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25; it reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ, especially to the Magi, but also at his baptism and at the wedding feast of Cana.[64] In 1955 a separate feast of the Baptism of the Lord was instituted, thus weakening further the connection in the West between the feast of the Epiphany and the commemoration of the baptism of Christ. However, Hungarians, in an apparent reference to baptism, refer to the January 6 celebration as Vízkereszt, a term that recalls the words «víz» (water) and «kereszt, kereszt-ség» (baptism).
Liturgical practice in Western churches[edit]
Many in the West, such as adherents of the Anglican Communion, Lutheran Churches and Methodist Churches, observe a twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 5, known as Christmastide or The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church determine since 1969 that «Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6».[47] Some regions and especially some communities celebrating the Tridentine Mass extend the season to as many as forty days, ending Christmastide traditionally on Candlemas (February 2).
On the Feast of the Epiphany in some parts of central Europe the priest, wearing white vestments, blesses Epiphany water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. The chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi (traditionally, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), over the doors of churches and homes. The initials may also be interpreted as the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat (may Christ bless the house).
According to ancient custom, the priest announced the date of Easter on the feast of Epiphany. This tradition dated from a time when calendars were not readily available, and the church needed to publicize the date of Easter, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on it.[65] The proclamation may be sung or proclaimed at the ambo by a deacon, cantor, or reader either after the reading of the Gospel or after the postcommunion prayer.[65]
The Roman Missal thus provides a formula with appropriate chant (in the tone of the Exsultet) for proclaiming on Epiphany, wherever it is customary to do so, the dates in the calendar for the celebration of Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, Ascension of Jesus Christ, Pentecost, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the First Sunday of Advent that will mark the following liturgical year.[66]
Some western rite churches, such as the Anglican and Lutheran churches, will follow practises similar to the Catholic Church. Church cantatas for the Feast of Epiphany were written by Protestant composers such as Georg Philipp Telemann, Christoph Graupner, Johann Sebastian Bach and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel.[67][68][69][70]
Eastern Orthodox churches[edit]
The name of the feast as celebrated in the Orthodox churches may be rendered in English as the Theophany, as closer in form to the Greek Θεοφάνεια («God shining forth» or «divine manifestation»). Here it is one of the Great Feasts of the liturgical year, being third in rank, behind only Paskha (Easter) and Pentecost in importance. It is celebrated on January 6 of the calendar that a particular Church uses. On the Julian calendar, which some of the Orthodox churches follow, that date corresponds, during the present century, to January 19 on the Gregorian or Revised Julian calendar. The earliest reference to the feast in the Eastern Church is a remark by St. Clement of Alexandria in Stromateis, I, xxi, 45:
And there are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day… And the followers of Basilides hold the day of his baptism as a festival, spending the night before in readings. And they say that it was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, the fifteenth day of the month of Tubi; and some that it was the eleventh of the same month.
(11 and 15 of Tubi are January 6 and 10, respectively.)
If this is a reference to a celebration of Christ’s birth, as well as of his baptism, on January 6, it corresponds to what continues to be the custom of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which celebrates the birth of Jesus on January 6 of the calendar used, calling the feast that of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord.[71][72]
Origen’s list of festivals (in Contra Celsum, VIII, xxii) omits any reference to Epiphany. The first reference to an ecclesiastical feast of the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI:ii), is in 361.
In parts of the Eastern Church, January 6 continued for some time as a composite feast that included the Nativity of Jesus: though Constantinople adopted December 25 to commemorate Jesus’ birth in the fourth century, in other parts the Nativity of Jesus continued to be celebrated on January 6, a date later devoted exclusively to commemorating his Baptism.[63]
Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis at this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Second Person of the Trinity at the time of his baptism. It is also celebrated because, according to tradition, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist marked one of only two occasions when all three Persons of the Trinity manifested themselves simultaneously to humanity: God the Father by speaking through the clouds, God the Son being baptized in the river, and God the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove descending from heaven (the other occasion was the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor). Thus the holy day is considered to be a Trinitarian feast.
The Orthodox consider Jesus’ Baptism to be the first step towards the Crucifixion, and there are some parallels in the hymnography used on this day and the hymns chanted on Good Friday.
Liturgical practice in Eastern churches[edit]
Forefeast: The liturgical Forefeast of Theophany begins on January 2[73] and concludes with the Paramony on January 5.
Paramony: The Eve of the Feast is called Paramony (Greek: παραμονή, Slavonic: navechérie). Paramony is observed as a strict fast day, on which those faithful who are physically able, refrain from food until the first star is observed in the evening, when a meal with wine and oil may be taken. On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated, thus tying together this feast with Nativity and Good Friday. The Royal Hours are followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with the Divine Liturgy. During the Vespers, fifteen Old Testament lections which foreshadow the Baptism of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. If the Feast of the Theophany falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Royal Hours are chanted on the previous Friday, and on the Paramony the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated in the morning. The fasting is lessened to some degree in this case.
Theophany Crucession in Bulgaria. The priests are going to throw a wooden cross in the Yantra river. Believers will then jump into the icy waters to recover the cross.
Blessing of Waters: The Orthodox Churches perform the Great Blessing of Waters on Theophany.[74] The blessing is normally done twice: once on the Eve of the Feast—usually at a Baptismal font inside the church—and then again on the day of the feast, outdoors at a body of water. Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and people go in a Crucession (procession with the cross) to the nearest body of water, be it a beach, harbor, quay, river, lake, swimming pool, water depot, etc. (ideally, it should be a body of «living water»). At the end of the ceremony the priest will bless the waters. In the Greek practice, he does this by casting a cross into the water. If swimming is feasible on the spot, any number of volunteers may try to recover the cross. The person who gets the cross first swims back and returns it to the priest, who then delivers a special blessing to the swimmer and their household. Certain such ceremonies have achieved particular prominence, such as the one held annually at Tarpon Springs, Florida. In Russia, where the winters are severe, a hole will be cut into the ice so that the waters may be blessed. In such conditions, the cross is not cast into the water, but is held securely by the priest and dipped three times into the water.
The water that is blessed on this day is sometimes known as «Theophany Water», though usually just «holy water», and is taken home by the faithful, and used with prayer as a blessing. People will not only bless themselves and their homes by sprinkling with holy water, but will also drink it. The Orthodox Church teaches that holy water differs from ordinary water by virtue of the incorruptibility bestowed upon it by a blessing that transforms its very nature.[75] a miracle attested to as early as St. John Chrysostom.[76]
Theophany is a traditional day for performing Baptisms, and this is reflected in the Divine Liturgy by singing the baptismal hymn, «As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia,» in place of the Trisagion.
House Blessings: On Theophany the priest will begin making the round of the parishioner’s homes to bless them. He will perform a short prayer service in each home, and then go through the entire house, gardens and outside-buildings, blessing them with the newly blessed Theophany Water, while all sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast. This is normally done on Theophany, or at least during the Afterfeast, but if the parishioners are numerous, and especially if many live far away from the church, it may take some time to bless each house. Traditionally, these blessings should all be finished before the beginning of Great Lent.
Afterfeast: The Feast of Theophany is followed by an eight-day Afterfeast on which the normal fasting laws are suspended. The Saturday and Sunday after Theophany have special readings assigned to them, which relate to the Temptation of Christ and to penance and perseverance in the Christian struggle. There is thus a liturgical continuum between the Feast of Theophany and the beginning of Great Lent.
Oriental Orthodox[edit]
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the feast is known as Timkat and is celebrated on the day that the Gregorian calendar calls January 19, but on January 20 in years when Enkutatash in the Ethiopian calendar falls on Gregorian September 12 (i.e. when the following February in the Gregorian calendar will have 29 days). The celebration of this feast features blessing of water and solemn processions with the sacred tabot. A priest carries this to a body of water where it stays overnight, with the Metsehafe Qeddassie celebrated in the early morning. Later in the morning, the water is blessed to the accompaniment of the reading of the four Gospel accounts of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the people are sprinkled with or go into the water. The tabot returns in procession to the church.
Among the Syriac Christians the feast is called denho (up-going), a name to be connected with the notion of rising light expressed in Luke 1:78. In the East Syriac rite, the season of Epiphany (Epiphanytide) is known as Denha.
In the Armenian Apostolic Church, January 6 is celebrated as the Nativity (Soorp Tsnund) and Theophany of Christ. The feast is preceded by a seven-day fast. On the eve of the feast, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. This liturgy is referred to as the Chragaluytsi Patarag (the Eucharist of the lighting of the lamps) in honor of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God. Both the Armenian Apostolic Church’s and Assyrian Church of the East’s liturgy is followed by a blessing of water, during which the cross is immersed in the water, symbolizing Jesus’ descent into the Jordan, and holy myron (chrism) is poured in, symbolic of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The next morning, after the Liturgy, the cross is removed from the vessel of holy water and all come forward to kiss the cross and partake of the blessed water.
National and local customs[edit]
A traditional Bulgarian all-male horo dance in ice-cold water on Theophany
Epiphany is celebrated with a wide array of customs around the world. In some cultures, the greenery and nativity scenes put up at Christmas are taken down at Epiphany. In other cultures these remain up until Candlemas on February 2. In countries historically shaped by Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism) these customs often involve gift giving, «king cakes» and a celebratory close to the Christmas season. In traditionally Orthodox nations, water, baptismal rites and house blessings are typically central to these celebrations.
Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay[edit]
In Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as in other Latin American countries, the day is called «Día de Reyes» (The Day of Kings, a reference to the Biblical Magi), commemorating the arrival of the Magi to revere Jesus as son of God. The night of January 5 into the morning of January 6 is known as «Noche de Reyes» (The Night of Kings) and children leave their shoes by the door, along with grass and water for the camels. On the morning of January 6, they get up early and rush to see their shoes, where they are expecting to find gifts left by the «Reyes» who, according to tradition, bypass the houses of children who are awake. On January 6, a «Rosca de Reyes» (a ring-shaped Epiphany cake) is eaten and all Christmas decorations are traditionally put away.
Bulgaria[edit]
In Bulgaria, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 and is known as Bogoyavlenie («Manifestation of God»), Кръщение Господне (Krashtenie Gospodne or «Baptism of the Lord») or Yordanovden («Day of Jordan», referring to the river). On this day, a wooden cross is thrown by a priest into the sea, river or lake and young men race to retrieve it. As the date is in early January and the waters are close to freezing, this is considered an honorable act and it is said that good health will be bestowed upon the home of the swimmer who is the first to reach the cross.[77]
In the town of Kalofer, a traditional horo with drums and bagpipes is played in the icy waters of the Tundzha river before the throwing of the cross.[78][79]
Benelux[edit]
Children in Flanders celebrating Driekoningen
The Dutch and Flemish call this day Driekoningen, while German speakers call it Dreikönigstag (Three Kings’ Day). In the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and neighboring Germany, children in groups of three (symbolizing the Biblical Magi) proceed in costume from house to house while singing songs typical for the occasion, and receiving a coin or some sweets at each door. They may each carry a paper lantern symbolizing the star.[80] In some places, especially Holland, these troupes gather for competitions and present their skits/songs for an audience. As in Belgium, Koningentaart (Kings’ tart), puff pastry with almond filling, is prepared with a black bean hidden inside. Whoever finds the bean in his or her piece is king or queen for the day. A more typically Dutch version is Koningenbrood, or Kings’ bread. In the Netherlands, the traditions have died out, except for very few places.[81] Another Low Countries tradition on Epiphany is to open up doors and windows to let good luck in for the coming year.
Brazil[edit]
In Brazil, the day is called «Dia dos Reis» (The Day of Kings) and in the rest of Latin America «Día de Reyes» commemorating the arrival of the Magi to confirm Jesus as son of God. The night of January 5 into the morning of January 6 is known as «Night of Kings» (also called the Twelfth Night) and is feasted with music, sweets and regional dishes as the last night of Nativity, when Christmas decorations are traditionally put away.[82]
Chile[edit]
This day is sometimes known as the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Royal Magi) or La Pascua de los Negros (Holy Day of the Black men)[83] in Chile, although the latter is rarely heard, because it was the day when slaves were allowed not to work.
Dominican Republic[edit]
In the Dominican Republic, the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Royal Magi) and in this day children receive gifts on the christmas tree in a similar fashion to Christmas day. On this day public areas are very active with children accompanied by their parents trying out their new toys.
A common practice is to leave toys under the children’s beds on January 5, so when they wake up on January 6, they are made to believe the gifts and toys were left from Santa Claus or the Three Kings. however, and particularly in the larger cities and in the North, local traditions are now being observed and intertwined with the greater North American Santa Claus tradition, as well as with other holidays such as Halloween, due to Americanization via film and television, creating an economy of gifting tradition that spans from Christmas Day until January 6.
Egypt[edit]
The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, which falls on 11 Tobe of the Coptic calendar, as the moment when in the baptism of Jesus the skies opened and God himself revealed to all as father of Jesus and all mankind. It is then a moment of revelation of epiphany. This celebration started to include all the processes of incarnation of Jesus, from his birth on Christmas until his baptism in the river Jordan. For the Coptic Orthodox Church it is also a moment in which the path of Jesus to the Cross begins. Therefore, in many celebrations there are certain similarities with the celebrations of Holy Friday during the time of Easter. Since the Epiphany is one of the seven great feasts of the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is a day of strict fasting, and several religious celebrations are held on this day. The day is related to the blessing of waters that are used all throughout the year in the church celebrations, and it is a privileged day to celebrate baptisms. It is also a day in which many houses are blessed with water. It may take several days for the local priest to bless all the houses of the parishioners that ask for it, and so the blessing of the houses may go into the after-feasts of the Epiphany celebrations. However, it must be done before the beginning of Lent.[84]
England[edit]
In England, the celebration of the night before Epiphany, Epiphany Eve, is known as Twelfth Night (the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6), and was a traditional time for mumming and the wassail. The Yule log was left burning until this day, and the charcoal left was kept until the next Christmas to kindle next year’s Yule log, as well as to protect the house from fire and lightning.[85] In the past, Epiphany was also a day for playing practical jokes, similar to April Fool’s Day. Today in England, Twelfth Night is still as popular a day for plays as when Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was first performed in 1601, and annual celebrations involving the Holly Man are held in London.[86] A traditional dish for Epiphany was Twelfth Cake, a rich, dense, typically English fruitcake. As in Europe, whoever found the baked-in bean was king for a day, but uniquely to English tradition other items were sometimes included in the cake. Whoever found the clove was the villain, the twig, the fool, and the rag, the tart.[clarification needed] Anything spicy or hot, like ginger snaps and spiced ale, was considered proper Twelfth Night fare, recalling the costly spices brought by the Wise Men. Another English Epiphany sweetmeat was the traditional jam tart, made appropriate to the occasion by being fashioned in the form of a six-pointed star symbolising the Star of Bethlehem, and thus called Epiphany tart. The discerning English cook sometimes tried to use thirteen different colored jams on the tart on this day for luck, creating a pastry resembling stained glass.[87]
Ethiopia and Eritrea[edit]
Orthodox priests dancing during the celebration of Timkat
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the feast is known as Timkat and is celebrated on the day that the Gregorian calendar calls January 19, but on January 20 in years when New Year in the Ethiopian calendar falls on Gregorian September 12 (i.e. when the following February in the Gregorian calendar will have 29 days). The celebration of this feast features blessing of water and solemn processions with the sacred Tabot.[88]
Finland[edit]
In Finland, Epiphany is called loppiainen, a name which goes back to the 1600s. In the 1500s the Swedish-Finnish Lutheran church called Epiphany «Day of the Holy Three Kings», while before this, the older term Epiphania was used. In the Karelian language Epiphany is called vieristä, meaning cross, from the Orthodox custom of submerging a cross three times to bless water on this day.[89] Today, in the Lutheran church, Epiphany is a day dedicated to a focus on missionary work in addition to the Wise Men narrative. Between 1973 and 1991 Epiphany was observed in Finland on a Saturday each year no earlier than January 6, and no later than January 12. After that time however, the traditional date of January 6 was restored and has since been observed once again as a national public holiday.
The Christmas tree is traditionally taken out of the house on Epiphany. While the term loppiainen means «ending [of Christmas time],» in reality, Christmas celebrations in Finland are extended to Nuutti’s or St. Canute’s Day on January 13, completing the Scandinavian Twenty Days of Christmas.
Francophone Europe[edit]
In France people share one of two types of king cake. In the northern half of France and Belgium the cake is called a galette des Rois, and is a round, flat, and golden cake made with flake pastry and often filled with frangipane, fruit, or chocolate. In the south, in Provence, and in the south-west, a crown-shaped cake or brioche filled with fruit called a gâteau des Rois is eaten. In Romandie, both types can be found though the latter is more common. Both types of cake contain a charm, usually a porcelain or plastic figurine, called a fève (broad bean in French).[90]
The cake is cut by the youngest (and therefore most innocent) person at the table to assure that the recipient of the bean is random. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket becomes «king» or «queen» and wears a paper crown provided with the cake. In some regions this person has a choice between offering a beverage to everyone around the table (usually a sparkling wine or champagne), or volunteering to host the next king cake at their home. This can extend the festivities through all of January.[91]
German-speaking Europe[edit]
Traditional house blessing in chalk, written by Sternsinger on the door beam of the home
January 6 is a public holiday in Austria, three federal states of Germany, and three cantons of Switzerland, as well as in parts of Graubünden.
In the German-speaking lands, groups of young people called Sternsinger (star singers) travel from door to door. They are dressed as the Biblical Magi, and their leader carries a star, usually of painted wood attached to a broom handle. Often these groups are four girls, or two boys and two girls in order to sing in four-part harmony. They sing traditional songs and newer ones such as «Stern über Bethlehem». They are not necessarily three wise men. German Lutherans often note in a lighthearted fashion that the Bible never specifies that the Weisen (Magi) were men, or that there were three. The star singers solicit donations for worthy causes, such as efforts to end hunger in Africa, organized jointly by the Catholic and Protestant churches, and they will also be offered treats at the homes they visit.[92] The young people then perform the traditional house blessing, by marking the year over the doorway with chalk. In Roman Catholic communities this may even today be a serious spiritual event with the priest present, but among Protestants it is more a tradition, and a part of the German notion of Gemütlichkeit. Usually on the Sunday following Epiphany, these donations are brought into churches. Here all of the children who have gone out as star singers, once again in their costumes, form a procession of sometimes dozens of wise men and stars. The German Chancellor and Parliament also receive a visit from the star singers at Epiphany.[93]
Some Germans eat a Three Kings cake, which may be a golden pastry ring filled with orange and spice representing gold, frankincense and myrrh. Most often found in Switzerland, these cakes take the form of Buchteln but for Epiphany, studded with citron, and baked as seven large buns in a round rather than square pan, forming a crown. Or they may be made of typical rich Christmas bread dough with cardamom and pearl sugar in the same seven bun crown shape. These varieties are most typically purchased in supermarkets, with the trinket and gold paper crown included.[94] As in other countries, the person who receives the piece or bun containing the trinket or whole almond becomes the king or queen for a day. Epiphany is also an especially joyful occasion for the young and young at heart, as this is the day dedicated to plündern – that is, when Christmas trees are «plundered» of their cookies and sweets by eager children (and adults) and when gingerbread houses, and any other good things left in the house from Christmas, are devoured.[95] Lastly, there is a German rhyme saying, or Bauernregel, that goes Ist’s bis Dreikönigs kein Winter, kommt keiner dahinter meaning «If there hasn’t been any winter (weather) until Epiphany, none is coming afterward.» Another of these Bauernregel, (German farmer’s rules) for Epiphany states: Dreikönigsabend hell und klar, verspricht ein gutes Weinjahr or «If the eve of Epiphany is bright and clear, it foretells a good wine year.»
Greece, Cyprus[edit]
In Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora throughout the world, the feast is called the Theophany,[96] or colloquially Phōta (Greek: Φώτα, «Lights»).[97] It is the «Great Celebration» or Theotromi. In some regions of Macedonia (West) it is the biggest festival of the year. The Baptism of Christ symbolizes the rebirth of man, its importance is such that until the fourth century Christians celebrated New Year on this day. Customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters.[98] It marks the end of the traditional ban on sailing, as the tumultuous winter seas are cleansed of the mischief-prone kalikántzaroi, the goblins that try to torment God-fearing Christians through the festive season. During this ceremony, a cross is thrown into the water, and the men compete to retrieve it for good luck. The Phota form the middle of another festive triduum, together with Epiphany Eve, when children sing the Epiphany carols, and the great feast of St. John the Baptist (January 7 and eve),[99] when the numerous Johns and Joans celebrate their name-day.
It is a time for sanctification, which in Greece means expiation, purification of the people and protection against the influence of demons. This concept is certainly not strictly Christian, but has roots in ancient worship. In most parts of Greece a ritual called «small sanctification», Protagiasi or «Enlightment» is practiced on the eve of Epiphany. The priest goes door to door with the cross and a branch of basil to «sanctify» or «brighten» the rooms by sprinkling them with holy water. The protagiasi casts away the goblins ; bonfires are also lit in some places for that purpose. The «Great Blessing» happens in church on the day of the Epiphany. In the Churches in a special rig embellished upon which brought large pot full of water[clarify]. Then the «Dive of the Cross» is performed: a cross is throwned by the priest in the sea, a nearby river, a lake or an ancient Roman cistern (as in Athens). According to popular belief, this ritual gives the water the power to cleanse and sanitize. In many places, after the dive of the cross, the locals run to the beaches or the shores of rivers or lakes to wash their agricultural tools and even icons. Indeed, according common folk belief, icons lose their original strength and power with the passage of time, but they can be restored by dipping the icons in the water cleansed by the cross. This may be a survival of ancient beliefs. Athenians held a ceremony called «washing»: the statue of Athena was carried in procession to the coast of Faliro where it was washed with salt water to cleanse it and renew its sacred powers.
Today, women in many parts repeating this ancient custom of washing the images but combined with other instruments of medieval and ancient magic. As the plate of Mytilene while the divers dive to catch the Cross women at the same time «getting a detaining (= pumpkin) water from 40 waves and then with cotton dipped it clean icons without talking to throughout this process («dumb water») and then the water is thrown out of the not pressed (in the crucible of the church).[clarify][citation needed]
Guadeloupe Islands[edit]
Celebrations in Guadeloupe have a different feel from elsewhere in the world. Epiphany here does not mean the last day of Christmas celebrations, but rather the first day of Kannaval (Carnival), which lasts until the evening before Ash Wednesday. Carnival, in turn, ends with the grand brilé Vaval, the burning of Vaval, the king of the Kannaval, amidst the cries and wails of the crowd.[100]
India[edit]
Diyas (lights) are used to celebrate Epiphany in some Kerala Christian households.
In parts of southern India, Epiphany is called the Three Kings Festival and is celebrated in front of the local church like a fair. This day marks the close of the Advent and Christmas season and people remove the cribs and nativity sets at home. In Goa Epiphany may be locally known by its Portuguese name Festa dos Reis. In the village of Reis Magos, in Goa, there is a fort called Reis Magos (Wise Men) or Três Reis Magos for Biblical Magi. Celebrations include a widely attended procession, with boys arrayed as the Magi, leading to the Franciscan Chapel of the Magi near the Goan capital of Panjim.[101] Other popular Epiphany processions are held in Chandor. Here three young boys in regal robes and splendid crowns descend the nearby hill of Our Lady of Mercy on horseback towards the main church where a three-hour festival Mass is celebrated. The route before them is decorated with streamers, palm leaves and balloons with the smallest children present lining the way, shouting greetings to the Kings. The Kings are traditionally chosen, one each, from Chandor’s three hamlets of Kott, Cavorim and Gurdolim, whose residents helped build the Chandor church in 1645.
In the past the kings were chosen only from among high-caste families, but since 1946 the celebration has been open to all. Participation is still expensive as it involves getting a horse, costumes, and providing a lavish buffet to the community afterwards, in all totaling some 100,000 rupees (about US$2,250) per king. This is undertaken gladly since having son serve as a king is considered a great honor and a blessing on the family.[102]
Cansaulim in South Goa is similarly famous for its Three Kings festival, which draws tourists from around the state and India. Three boys are selected from the three neighboring villages of Quelim, Cansaulim and Arrosim to present the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in a procession. Only a native of these villages may serve as king; outsiders are barred from the role. Throughout the year, excitement runs high in the villages to see who will be chosen. The boys selected are meticulously groomed, and must grow their hair long in time for the festival. The procession involves the three kings wearing jeweled red velvet robes and crowns, riding white horses decked with flowers and fine cloth, and they are shaded by colorful parasols, with a retinue of hundreds.[103][104]
The procession ends at the local church built in 1581, and in its central window a large white star hangs, and colored banners stream out across the square from those around it. Inside, the church will have been decorated with garlands. After presenting their gifts and reverencing the altar and Nativity scene, the kings take special seats of honor and assist at the High Mass.[105]
The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala State, Epiphany is known by its Syriac name Denha. Saint Thomas Christians, like other Eastern Christians, celebrate Denha as a great feast to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. The liturgical season Denhakalam («Weeks of Epiphany») commemorates the second revelation at the Baptism and the subsequent public life of Jesus. Denha is celebrated on January 6 by the Syro-Malabar Church in two ways – Pindiperunnal («Plantain trunk feast») and Rakkuliperunal («Feast with a night bath»).[106]
Ireland[edit]
The Irish call the day the Feast of the Epiphany or traditionally Little Christmas or «Women’s Christmas» (Irish: Nollaig na mBan). On Nollaig na mBan, women traditionally rested and celebrated for themselves after the cooking and work of the Christmas holidays. The custom was for women to gather on this day for a special meal, but on the occasion of Epiphany accompanied by wine, to honor the Miracle at the Wedding at Cana.[citation needed]
Today, women may dine at a restaurant or gather in a pub in the evening. They may also receive gifts from children, grandchildren or other family members on this day. Other Epiphany customs, which symbolize the end of the Christmas season, are popular in Ireland, such as the burning the sprigs of Christmas holly in the fireplace which have been used as decorations during the past twelve days.[107]
The Epiphany celebration serves as the initial setting for – and anchors the action, theme, and climax of – James Joyce’s short story «The Dead» from his 1914 collection, Dubliners.
Italy[edit]
In Italy, Epiphany is a national holiday and is associated with the figure of the Befana (the name being a corruption of the word Epifania), a broomstick-riding old woman who, on the night between January 5 and 6, brings gifts to children or a lump of «coal» (really black candy) for the times they have not been good during the year. The legend told of her is that, having missed her opportunity to bring a gift to the child Jesus together with the Biblical Magi, she now brings gifts to other children on that night.[108][109][24]
However, in some parts of today’s Italian state, different traditions exist, and instead of the Befana it is the three Magi who bring gifts. in Sardinia, for example, where local traditions and customs of the Hispanic period coexist, the tradition of the Biblical Magi (in Sardinian language, Sa Pasca de is Tres Reis) bringing gifts to children is very present.
Jordan[edit]
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, believed to be the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptised by John the Baptist |
|
| Location | Balqa Governorate, Jordan |
| Reference | 1446 |
| Inscription | 2015 (39th Session) |
| Website | www.baptismsite.com |
Thousands of Jordanian Christians, tourists and pilgrims flock to Al-Maghtas site on the east bank of the Jordan River in January every year to mark Epiphany, where large masses and celebrations are held.[110] «Al-Maghtas» meaning «baptism» or «immersion» in Arabic, is an archaeological World Heritage site in Jordan, officially known as «Baptism Site «Bethany Beyond the Jordan» (Al-Maghtas)». It is considered to be the original location of the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist and has been venerated as such since at least the Byzantine period.[8]
- John 1:28: These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.
The site has then seen several archaeological digs, four papal visits and state visits and attracts tourists and pilgrimage activity.[110] Approximately 81,000 people visited the site in 2016, mostly European, American and Arab tourists.[111]
Latvia[edit]
Epiphany is known in Latvia as Trijkungu diena (Three Kings Day) by Catholics or Zvaigznes diena (Star Day) by Lutherans after the custom of star singing, and the Star of Bethlehem which led the Magi to the Christ Child.[112] In the past bright stars of fabric were sewn onto the background of dark colored quilts, representing the night sky. Epiphany was a day of enjoyment, spent in horse-drawn open sleighs, and these quilts would then be taken along to cover the laps of the merry riders.[113] If Epiphany Day was bright and mild and the sun «warmed the horses’ backs» it was said that the coming year would bring only peace. If the night before Epiphany saw clear starry skies, it meant Latvia could expect a fine harvest in the coming Summer. Weaving and wood-cutting were «bad luck», giving both men and women a proper holiday, and if a dog was heard barking on Epiphany one ought to look for his or her future spouse in that same direction. Special three-corner apple cakes are eaten on this day, and as in other countries, star singing, visiting and house blessings have long been popular.[114]
Lebanon[edit]
Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, is the feast for the Roman Church that commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, the magi. However, in the Maronite Church, in accordance with the ancient tradition, it represents the public announcement of Jesus’ mission when he was baptized in the Jordan by John the Forerunner, also known as «John the Baptist». On the occasion, Lebanese Christians pray for their deceased.[115]
It is celebrated by attending church most often to the midnight mass by the maronites. The reason why it is at midnight is because the Christ will be passing to bless homes, also Lebanese Christians who gathered for the mass congratulate each other on that day by saying: «El Deyim Deyim» (Arabic: دايم دايم) which translates as «The permanent is permanent». They also mix dough made out of water and flour only and it rises outdoors with no yeast by being blessed.[115]
North Macedonia[edit]
Epiphany procession in the capital of North Macedonia Skopje near Stone Bridge on the Vardar river in the early 1920s
Epiphany in North Macedonia is known as Vodici (Водици).[116] On this day the priest throws a wooden cross into the water, to symbolize the baptism of Christ.[citation needed] Men jump into the cold water to retrieve the cross, and whoever retrieves it is believed to be blessed during the whole year.[citation needed] These are very festive gatherings with many spectacles attending the sites. Special food jelly from pork and beef meat and bones called «pacha» (пача) or «pivtii» (пивтии) is prepared the day before, but served on the day after Epiphany, together with warm local brandy, rakija (ракија).[117] Epiphany is a non-working day for the Orthodox believers in North Macedonia.[118]
Malta[edit]
In Malta, Epiphany is commonly known as It-Tre Re (The Three Kings). Until the 1980s, January 6 was a public holiday, but today the Maltese celebrate Epiphany on the first Sunday of the year. Children and students still take January 6 as a school holiday and Christmas decorations are lit up through this day on most public streets. The Maltese also have a long-standing custom of presenting concerts in honor of Epiphany, including the prestigious annual Epiphany Concert organized by the Malta Council for Culture and Arts, performed by the National Orchestra. In 2010, the Epiphany Concert which used to be held before a select audience, was opened to the general public following a decision by the President. The Ministry of Education and Culture therefore moved from the venue from the Palace to the historic Sacra Infermeria, also known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre.[119] Qagħaq tal-Għasel or tal-Qastanija (Maltese honey rings) are typically served at Epiphany in Malta.
Mexico[edit]
The evening of January 5 marks the Twelfth Night of Christmas and is when the figurines of the three Biblical Magi are added to the nativity scene. Traditionally in Mexico, as with many other Latin American countries, Santa Claus doesn’t hold the cachet that he does in the United States. Rather, it is the Magi who are the bearers of gifts, who leave presents in or near the shoes of small children.[120] Mexican families also commemorate the date by eating Rosca de reyes. In modern Mexico however, and particularly in the larger cities and in the North, local traditions are now being observed and intertwined with the greater North American Santa Claus tradition, as well as with other holidays such as Halloween, due to Americanization via film and television, creating an economy of gifting tradition that spans from Christmas Day until January 6.
Peru[edit]
Feast of Día de Reyes in Peru
Peru shares Epiphany customs with Spain and the rest of Latin America. Peruvian national lore holds that Francisco Pizarro was the first to call Lima «Ciudad de los Reyes» (City of the Kings) because the date of the Epiphany coincided with the day he and his two companions searched for, and found, an ideal location for a new capital. Even more popular in Peru than gift giving is the custom of the Bajada de Reyes when parties are held in honor of the taking down of family and public nativity scenes, and carefully putting them away until the next Christmas.[121]
Philippines[edit]
In the Philippines, Epiphany is known as «Three Kings’ Day» and Pasko ng Matatanda («Feast of the Elderly»), and marks the official close of the country’s Christmas season. As a day of feasting, some Filipinos celebrate with gift-giving and greet each other «Happy Three Kings!».[122]
Poland[edit]
In Poland, Epiphany, or «Trzech Króli» (Three Kings) is celebrated in grand fashion, with huge parades held welcoming the Wise Men, often riding on camels or other animals from the zoo, in Warsaw, Poznań[123] and over 2,000 other cities. The Wise Men pass out sweets, children process in renaissance wear, carols are sung, and living nativity scenes are enacted, all similar to celebrations in Italy or Spain, pointing to the country’s Catholic heritage. Children may also dress in colors signifying Europe, Asia, and Africa (the supposed homes of the Wise Men) and at the end of the parade route, church leaders often preach on the spiritual significance of the Epiphany. In 2011, by an act of Parliament, Epiphany was restored as an official non-working national public holiday in Poland for the first time since it was canceled under communism fifty years earlier.[124]
Poles though take small boxes containing chalk, a gold ring, incense and a piece of amber, in memory of the gifts of the Magi, to church to be blessed. Once at home, they inscribe «K+M+B+» and the year with the blessed chalk above every door in the house, according to tradition, to provide protection against illness and misfortune for those within. The letters, with a cross after each one, are said to stand either for the traditionally applied names of the Three Kings in Polish – Kacper, Melchior and Baltazar – or for a Latin inscription meaning «Christ bless this house.» They remain above the doors all year until they are inadvertently dusted off or replaced by new markings the next year.[125] On January 6, as in much of Europe, a Polish style Three Kings cake is served with a coin or almond baked inside. The one who gets it is king or queen for the day, signified by wearing the paper crown that decorates the cake. According to Polish tradition this person will be lucky in the coming year. Recipes vary by region. Some serve a French-type puff pastry cake with almond paste filling, others favor a sponge cake with almond cream filling, and yet others enjoy a light fruitcake.[126]
Epiphany in Poland also signals the beginning of zapusty or carnival time, when pączki (doughnuts) and chrust (Angel wings) are served.[127]
Portugal[edit]
In Portugal, Epiphany, January 6, is called dia dos Reis (Day of the Kings), during which the traditional Bolo Rei (King cake) is baked and eaten. Plays and pageants are popular on this day, and parents often hold parties for their children. Epiphany is also a time when the traditional Portuguese dances known as Mouriscadas and Paulitos are performed. The latter is an elaborate stick dance. The dancers, who are usually men but may be dressed as women, manipulate sticks or staves (in imitation swords) in two opposing lines.[128] It is a tradition too in Portugal for people to gather in small groups and to go from house to house to sing the Reis (meaning «Kings») which are traditional songs about the life of Jesus. The singers also bring greetings to the owners of the house. After singing for a while outside, they are invited in, and the owners of the house offer them sweets, liqueurs, and other Epiphany delicacies. These Reis usually begin on Epiphany eve and last until January 20.[129]
Portuguese village of Vale de Salgueiro encourages children, some as young as five, to smoke in a tradition that does not have clear roots.[130][131]
Puerto Rico[edit]
In Puerto Rico, Epiphany is an important festive holiday, and is commonly referred as Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, or Three Kings’ Day. It is traditional for children to fill a box with fresh grass or hay and put it underneath their bed, for the Wise Men’s horses. In Puerto Rico many artisans make commemorative historical figures of the Magi on horseback. The Three Wise Men of Puerto Rico, according to local tradition, arrive on horseback instead of camels as in other countries where the custom is also ingrained. The three kings will then take the grass to feed the horses and will leave gifts under the bed as a reward. These traditions are analogous to the customs of children leaving mince pies and sherry out for Father Christmas in Western Europe or leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus in the United States. On the day before the feast (January 5), the «Rosario de Reyes» or «Promesa de Reyes» is celebrated with songs (aguinaldos) promised to be sung to the Kings, usually before a little table with figures of the Nativity and the Kings or with the Kings alone and their camels. This celebration is accompanied with a chicken soup, snacks, and drinks.
Romania and Moldova[edit]
Star boys. Postage stamp depicting traditional Christmas & Epiphany star singing in Moldova.
In Romania and Moldova, Epiphany is called Boboteaza. In south-eastern Romania, following religious services, men participate in winter horse races. Before the race, the men line up with their horses before the priest, who will bless them by sprinkling them with green branches that have been dipped into Epiphany holy water. Sometimes people desire to have this blessing for themselves as well. Winning the Epiphany race is a great honor for both horse and rider, while the post-race celebrations, win or not, are highly festive. As in other Eastern Orthodox heritage countries, water rites play a special role on this day.[132] A unique piece of Romanian folk wisdom holds that if a girl slips on ice–or, better yet, falls into water–on Epiphany, she will surely marry before the year is out.[133]
In Transylvania (Erdély/Siebenbürgen), Lutheran and Reformed Christians of Hungarian and Saxon descent celebrate Epiphany with star singing and house blessing, as in Central Europe. The star singing custom had long ago spread throughout Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Here the star, called Steaua, today resembles a stained-glass lantern and features an Orthodox icon at its center, a tradition pointing to the blending of both East and West which characterizes the two nations on the river Prut.[134]
Russia[edit]
An ice hole is cut in the form of a cross in Russia to celebrate the Epiphany.
The Epiphany, celebrated in Russia on January 19, marks the baptism of Jesus in the Eastern Orthodox Church. As elsewhere in the Orthodox world, the Russian Church conducts the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters, also known as «the Great Sanctification of the Water» on that day (or the eve before).[135] The priest-led procession could simply proceed to the font,[135] but traditionally the worshipers would go to a nearby lake or river.
Historical records indicate that the blessing of the waters events took place at the courts of Moscow Czars since no later than 1525. According to historians, the blessing of the waters procession was the most magnificent of the annual Czar’s court’s ceremonies, comparable only to such special events as royal coronations and weddings. After a divine liturgy in the Kremlin’s Dormition Cathedral, the procession, led by the Czar and the Patriarch of Moscow would proceed to the frozen Moskva River. An ice-hole would have been made in the ice, called Iordan’ (in memory of the Jordan River), over which a small gazebo would have been erected and decorated with holy icons, one of which would depict the Baptism of Christ. The Patriarch would immerse his cross into the river’s water; and sprinkle the Czar, his boyars, and the banners of Czar’s army’s regiments with the holy water. A load of holy water would then be brought back to the Kremlin, to be used in blessing the Czar’s palace.[136] On a smaller scale, similar events would take place in the parishes throughout the nation.
Believing that on this day water becomes holy and is imbued with special powers, Russians cut holes called Iordan’ in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of the cross, to bathe in the freezing water.[137] This practice is said to be popularized comparatively recently; it was fairly uncommon in the czarist days, but has flourished since the 1990s.[138]
Participants in the ritual may dip themselves under the water three times, honoring the Holy Trinity, to symbolically wash away their sins from the past year, and to experience a sense of spiritual rebirth. Orthodox priests are on hand to bless the water, and rescuers are on hand to monitor the safety of the swimmers in the ice-cold water. Others limit their participation in the Epiphany rites to those conducted inside churches, where priests perform the Great Blessing of Waters, both on Epiphany Eve and Epiphany (Theophany) proper. The water is then distributed to attendees who may store it to use in times of illness, to bless themselves, family members, and their homes, or to drink. Some Russians think any water – even from the taps on the kitchen sink – poured or bottled on Epiphany becomes holy water, since all the water in the world is blessed this day. In the more mild climate of the southern city of Sochi meanwhile, where air and water temperatures both hover in the low to mid 10-degree Celsius range (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in January, thousands of people jump into the Black Sea at midnight each year on Epiphany and begin to swim in celebration of the feast.[139]
Slovenia[edit]
In Slovenia, especially in the Western part of the country, during the first day of the year and on Epiphany, children go from house to house because villagers will give them almonds, dried figs, nuts, cookies or other good things that they have at home.[140]
Spain[edit]
In Spain and some Latin American countries, Epiphany day is called El Día de Reyes[141] i.e., the day when a group of Kings or Magi, as related in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. In Spanish tradition on January 6, three of the Kings: Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Arabia, the Orient, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Before going to bed on the eve of January 6, children polish their shoes and leave them ready for the Kings’ presents to be put in them. The next morning presents will appear under their shoes, or if the children are deemed to have misbehaved during the year, coal (usually a lump of hard sugar candy dyed black, called Carbón Dulce).[142] Most towns in Spain arrange colorful parades representing the arrival of the Reyes Magos to town so children can see them on their camels or carriages before they go to bed. The oldest of these parades is held in Alcoy, Alicante (Valencian Community) which has hosted an annual parade since 1885.[143] Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are left for the Kings and their camels. In Spain, children typically receive presents on this day, rather than on Christmas, though this tradition has changed lately, and children now receive presents on both days. The Epiphany bread/cake is known as Roscón,[144] Tortell de Reis in Catalan, and in Mexico as Rosca de reyes.[145]
Sweden[edit]
Epiphany is a public holiday in Sweden, where it is known as «trettondedag jul» («Thirteenth Day Yule»), as January 6 is the thirteenth day after Christmas Eve, the main day on which Christmas is celebrated in Sweden. However, the end of the Christmas celebration is on January 13, St. Knut’s Day, more commonly known as «Twentieth Day Yule» (or «Twentieth Day Knut»).
United States[edit]
King cakes of the type locally called «French style» on display at the chain bakery/restaurant «La Madeline» branch in Carrollton, New Orleans. They come with cardboard «crowns» to be worn by whoever gets the slice with the token and becomes monarch of the event.
In Louisiana, Epiphany is the beginning of the Carnival season, during which it is customary to bake King Cakes, similar to the Rosca mentioned above. It is round in shape, filled with cinnamon, glazed white, and coated in traditional carnival color sanding sugar. The person who finds the doll (or bean) must provide the next king cake. The interval between Epiphany and Mardi Gras is sometimes known as «king cake season», and many may be consumed during this period. The Carnival season begins on King’s Day (Epiphany), and there are many traditions associated with that day in Louisiana and along the Catholic coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. King cakes are first sold then, Carnival krewes begin having their balls on that date, and the first New Orleans krewe parades in street cars that night.
In Colonial Virginia, Epiphany, or 12th Night, was an occasion of great merriment, and was considered especially appropriate as a date for balls and dancing, as well as for weddings. On 12th Night, Great Cake was prepared, consisting in two giant layers of fruitcake, coated and filled with royal icing. Custom dictated that the youngest child present cut and serve the cake and whoever found the bean or prize in the Twelfth Night cake was crowned «King of the Bean» similar to the European king cake custom.[citation needed]
In Erie, Pennsylvania, as part of an Epiphany party a king is hidden in a cake, and whichever child finds the king in the cake is crowned king for the day.[146]
Tarpon Springs, Florida, is known for elaborate religious ceremonies related to the Greek Orthodox Church, the most notable being the Epiphany celebration. The Metropolitan of Atlanta usually presides over the blessings, sometimes joined by the Archbishop of America. The blessings conclude with the ceremonial throwing of a wooden cross into the city’s Spring Bayou, and boys ages 16 to 18 diving in to retrieve it. Whoever recovers the cross is said to be blessed for a full year. Following the blessings, the celebration moves to the Sponge Docks where food and music are made part of the festivities.[147] Tarpon Springs has given itself the nickname Epiphany City.[148] The celebration attracts Greek Americans from across the country,[147] and the city’s population is known to triple in size for that day.[149]
In Manitou Springs, Colorado, Epiphany is marked by the Great Fruitcake Toss. Fruitcakes are thrown, participants dress as kings, fools, etc., and competitions are held for the farthest throw, the most creative projectile device, etc. As with customs in other countries, the fruitcake toss is a sort of festive symbolic leave-taking of the Christmas holidays until next year, but with humorous twist, since fruitcake is considered with a certain degree of derision in most of the United States, and is the source of many jokes.[150][151]
Wales[edit]
On January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany has long been an important celebration in Wales, known there as Ystwyll. In Glamorganshire, a huge loaf or cake was prepared, which was then divided up into three parts to represent Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Biblical Magi. A large company of neighbours was invited to be present at the dividing of the cake in which rings were concealed. Whoever discovered a ring in his piece of cake (or bread) was elected as King or Queen and presided over the day’s festivities. January 6 was the old-calendar Christmas Day and many of the festivities connected with it lasted well over a century after the new calendar was introduced in 1752.[citation needed]
Wales shares other Twelfth Night customs with its neighbor, England, including the Yule log, and the wassail to wish farmers a good harvest in the coming year, but here the Yule log’s ashes were saved then buried along with the seeds planted in the ensuing spring to ensure a good harvest, while the wassail bowl was taken to the house of newlyweds or to a family which had recently come to live in the district and songs sung outside the house door. Those inside the house would recite or sing special verses, to be answered by the revelers outside.
Another Welsh custom associated with Epiphany was the Hunting of the Wren. A group of young men would go out into the countryside to capture a wren (the smallest bird in the British Isles after the goldcrest/firecrest). The bird would then be placed in a small, decorated cage and carried around from house to house and shown in exchange for money or gifts of food and drink. (If a wren could not be found then a sparrow would have to undergo the ritual.)[152]
References[edit]
- ^ «The Byzantine Blessing of Water on the Vigil of the Epiphany».
- ^ a b «The Origins and Spirituality of the Epiphany». Catholicireland.net. February 14, 1969. Archived from the original on November 27, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Packer, George Nichols (1893). Our Calendar. Union and Advertiser Co. p. 110.
The length of Christmastide or season is twelve days, lasting from the 25th of December to Epiphany. Epiphany (Greek Epiphania, Theophania or Christophania), is a festival in commemoration of the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world as the Son of God, and referring to the appearance of the star which announced our Saviour’s birth to the Gentiles, and the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men of the East to the infant Jesus. This festival is held on the 6th of January invariably, consequently is not a moveable feast, though the length of Epiphany-tide depends upon the date of Easter.
- ^ «Epiphany and Epiphanytide». The Parish of St Clement and St James. The Church of England. December 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
The current pattern in the Anglican Church is to have an extended Epiphany season (called Epiphanytide). This is why Nativity scenes are sometimes kept in churches throughout January. Epiphanytide: Rather confusingly, however, the other two main ‘manifestations’ marked in Epiphanytide concern Jesus as an adult: his baptism in the River Jordan, when the Holy Spirit descends on him in the form of a dove (on the Sunday after Epiphany), and his first sign: the turning of water into wine at the marriage feast in Cana in Galilee. This latter event – the third ‘epiphany’ of the season – is only to be found in John’s gospel.
- ^ Heiligman, Deborah (2007). Celebrate Christmas. National Geographic. p. 27. ISBN 9781426301223.
At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a special day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday, which falls on January 6th, is celebrated as the day when the three wise men, also called the three kings, first saw baby Jesus and gave him gifts.
- ^ a b «Epiphany». Christian Advocate. United Methodist Publishing House. 7: 15. 1963.
…in Methodist usage the Epiphany Season includes all the Sundays between that date and Ash Wednesday, which for 1964 will be February 12, the beginning of Lent.
- ^ The Church Eclectic. Vol. XXV. The Young Churchman Co. 1898. p. 1089.
The Provincial Synod established in 1883 the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada, framed largely upon the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the American Church. No concerted action had been taken by the Church in Canada till the formation of this society but by the regular issuing of appeals from the Board of Management each year, at Ascensiontide for Domestic, and at Epiphanytide for Foreign Missions, a certain amount of interest in the great question of missions has been created.
- ^ a b «Evaluations of Nominations of Cultural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List: ICOMOS Report» (PDF). UNESCO Organization. August 2014. pp. 49–50. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. «Baptism Site «Bethany Beyond the Jordan» (Al-Maghtas)». UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ «The Calendar of the Orthodox Church». Goarch.org. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Holger Oertel (September 22, 2007). «The Julian Calendar». Ortelius.de. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Twelve days of Christmas». Full Homely Divinity. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
We prefer, like good Anglicans, to go with the logic of the liturgy and regard January 5th as the Twelfth Day of Christmas and the night that ends that day as Twelfth Night. That does make Twelfth Night the Eve of the Epiphany, which means that, liturgically, a new feast has already begun.
- ^ Funk, Tim (December 25, 2009). «Presbyterians bring Twelfth Night». The Charlotte Observer.
Christmas was a day to go to church – the simpler the service, the better, Todd says – and maybe have a quiet dinner with family. It was a slower time in the agricultural year, so there was an opportunity for some leisure. As long as you didn’t overdo it. But even Scots-Irish Presbyterians had to have a little fun sometimes. The occasion to let go was Twelfth Night on Jan. 5 or 6. For Christians, it marks the arrival in Bethlehem of the Magi, or Three Wise Men.
- ^ «The Bridge» Archived December 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Diocese of Southwark. Newsletter dated December 2011/January 2012.
- ^ Polon, Linda; Cantwell, Aileen (1983). The Whole Earth Holiday Book. Good Year Books. p. 97. ISBN 9780673165855.
- ^ A Study Guide for William Shakespeare’s «Twelfth Night» (2 ed.). Cengage Learning. 2016. p. 29. ISBN 9781410361349.
Twelfth Night saw people feasting and taking down Christmas decorations. The king cake is traditionally served in France and England on the Twelfth Night to commemorate the journey of the Magi to visit the Christ child.
- ^ Edworthy, Niall (2008). The Curious World of Christmas. Penguin Group. p. 83. ISBN 9780399534577.
The time-honoured epoch for taking down Christmas decorations from Church and house in Candlemas Day, February 2nd. Terribly withered they are by that time. Candlemas in old times represented the end of the Christmas holidays, which, when «fine old leisure» reigned, were far longer than they are now.
- ^ Roud, Steve (2008). The English Year. Penguin Books Limited. p. 690. ISBN 9780141919270.
As indicated in Herrick’s poem, quoted above, in the mid seventeenth century Christmas decorations were expected to stay in place until Candlemas (2 February), and this remained the norm until the nineteenth century.
- ^ Groome, Imogen (December 31, 2016). «When is Twelfth Night and what does it mean?». Metro. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
Twelfth Night 2017 is on Thursday 5 January, which is when we’re meant to put away our Christmas decorations or there’ll be bad luck in the year ahead. If you miss the date, some believe it’s necessary to keep decorations up until Candlemas on 2 February – or you’ll definitely have a rubbish year.
- ^ «Candlemas». BBC. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.
- ^ «Online Etymological Dictionary». Etymonline.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ a b «Lexicon». Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Cf. Schaff, Philip (April 28, 2014). «History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325. § 64. The Epiphany». Christian Classics Etheral Library. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Martindale 1909.
- ^ Schmemann, Alexander, «The Pre-Constantinian Origins of the Church Year»
- ^ Carrington, P., The Primitive Christian Calendar, 1952, –»In the secondary arrangement of Mark which is found in the non-B manuscripts, the Roman Year was followed. This arrangement would be the most natural way of explaining the origin of January 6 as a festival of the Baptism of Jesus.» (p. 71).
- ^ Carrington, «The ‘heretical’ festival of ‘Epiphany’ became a universal festival throughout the whole Christian world, commemorating both the Baptism and the Nativity of Jesus. It is hard to explain this as a world-wide imitation of the Basilides; it is quite easy to explain if the 48 (49)-lection arrangement of Mark was used as a Calendar fairly widely at one time.» (p. 54).
- ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, XXI, ii
- ^ Epiphanius, Panarion, li, 27, in Migne, Patrologia Graecae (P.G.), XLI, 936 (where it is called by its Latin name: Adversus Haereses)
- ^ Epiphanius, chapters xxviii and xxix P.G., XLI, 940 sq..
- ^ Nicholas Pokhilko, «History of Epiphany»: «The birth of Christ, the story of the Magi, Christ’s baptism, His divine manifestation, miracle at Cana, and the feeding of the crowds formed the festival of Epiphany on January 6 as indicated in earlier Alexandrian and Syrian traditions.»
- ^ Keener, Matthew, 1997, (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA), ISBN 0-8308-1801-4, page 65.
- ^ St John Chrysostom, Homilies on St Matthew, 7
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- ^ Liddell & Scott
- ^ Migne 1858, p. 312, Oratio XXXVIII.
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- ^ Nazianzus & col. 349.
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- ^ Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1992). Liturgical Year. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-66425350-9.
- ^ Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 44
- ^ Ball, Ann (2003). Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 9780879739102. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
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- ^ a b «Nicholas Pokhilko, History of Epiphany». Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Today the Church has been joined to her heavenly bridegroom, since Christ has purified her of her sins in the river Jordan: the Magi hasten to the royal wedding and offer gifts: the wedding guests rejoice since Christ has changed water into wine, alleluia» (Benedictus antiphon, Liturgy of the Hours, Roman Rite). «Three wonders mark this day we celebrate: today the star led the Magi to the manger; today water was changed into wine at the marriage feast; today Christ desired to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation, alleluia» (Magnificat antiphon at Second Vespers, Liturgy of the Hours, Roman Rite).
- ^ a b «Proclamation of the Date of Easter at Epiphany», 1970 Roman Missal, The Catholic Liturgical Library, 1989, retrieved May 18, 2008
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- ^ New Bach Edition (Bärenreiter). Volume 5: Kantaten zum Epiphaniasfest bis zum 2. Sonntag nach Epiphanias in Series I: Cantatas
- ^ Stölzel, Gottfried Heinrich: Es danken dir Gott die Völker and Stölzel, Gottfried Heinrich: Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden in F major at RISM website
- ^ Pieces for Epiphany: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
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- ^ St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Christian Baptism in P.G., XLIX, 363.
- ^ «Bulgaria – Epiphany Day at an icy Sofia lake finds young men in hot pursuit. Belief holds that the first to reach the wooden cross, thrown by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will enjoy a year of good health. Photograph by Dimitar Dilkoff». Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
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- ^ ‘Traditie Driekoningen is verloren gegaan’, nu.nl, January 6, 2016 (in Dutch)
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- ^ «Twelfth Night in England – Traditions and customs». Woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk. January 1, 2004. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Twelfth Night Celebrations – London». Woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «The Twelfth Day of Christmas». The Old Foodie. January 6, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
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- ^ «108 Könige zu Gast bei der Kanzlerin». Abendblatt.de. January 4, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ The Anonymous Mama (November 10, 2006). «How to Make Three Kings Cake > German Three Kings Cake (Dreikönigskuchen)». Christmasspirit.wordpress.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Epiphany – Three Kings». Mrshea.com. December 14, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Theophany». OrthodoxWiki. January 15, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ «National Holidays in Greece». justlanded.com. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
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- ^ «John_the_Forerunner». Orthowiki. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ «La Fête des Rois». Fetedesrois.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Abram, David; Edwards, Nick (2003), The Rough Guide to South India, ISBN 978-1-84353-103-6, retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ «INDIA Magi’s journey in Chandor includes every caste». Asianews.it. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Cansaulim village in Goa, Three Kings Feast in Cansaulim». Goaholidayhomes.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Feast of the Three Kings today». The Times of India. January 6, 2011.
- ^ «Feast of Three Kings – Three Kings Feast Goa – Holy Epiphany Goa India». Bharatonline.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Christmas and Epiphany». Nasranifoundation.org. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «New Year’s Day to Epiphany – World Cultures European». Irishcultureandcustoms.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals. ABC-CLIO. p. 144. ISBN 9781576070895. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ Brand, John (1777). Popular Antiquities. pp. 180, 183
- ^ a b «Catholics celebrate Epiphany, coexistence of faiths at Baptism Site». January 9, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ «الفرجات: 81 ألفا زاروا المغطس العام الماضي». Al Ghad (in Arabic). January 2, 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Baister, Stephen; Patrick, Chris (2007), Latvia, ISBN 978-1-84162-201-9
- ^ «Zvaigznes diena». Liis.lv. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Zvaigznes Diena – Definition». WordIQ.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ a b «Maronite Eparchy of Australia – The Maronite Liturgical Year». Maronite.org.au. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ «водици – резултати од пребарување – Дигитален речник на македонскиот јазик».
- ^ Wong, Curtis (January 6, 2011). «Epiphany, Or Three Kings Day Celebrations Around The World (photos)». HuffPost. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Vodici e neraboten den za pravoslavnite Archived June 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Alfa.mk. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ «Epiphany Concert opened to the public». The Times. Malta. December 22, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Ricardo Botto. «Dia de Reyes, the story of Los Tres Reyes Magos». Mexonline.com. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Ricardo Botto (January 3, 2008). «No Hay Navidad Sin Jesús: La Bajada de Reyes». Celebrandonavidad.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
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- ^ «Feast of the Three Kings – How Poles Celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings – Trzech Króli». Easteuropeanfood.about.com. April 17, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Three Kings». inyourpocket.com/poland. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
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- ^ carmen (January 7, 2010). «Boboteaza (Epiphany in Romania)». PocketCultures. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
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- ^ «Star Carol *Steaua». Roembus.org. Archived from the original on December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Bute (Marquess of), John Patrick Crichton-Stuart; Budge, Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis (1901), The blessing of the waters on the eve of the Epiphany: the Greek, Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and Russian versions, edited or translated from the original texts, Oxford University Press, pp. 47 sq.
- ^ Bushkovitch, Paul (1992), Religion and Society in Russia: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, Oxford University Press, p. 42, ISBN 9780195069464
- ^ «Epiphany in Russia – Baptism of Jesus». Goeasteurope.about.com. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Katia Moskvitch, Russia’s trend for dipping children in frozen rivers. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ «Tens of thousands bathe in icy water on Epiphany in Russia». RIA Novosti. January 19, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Slovenska Istra- En». Slovenska-istra.si. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Why Spain loves the Three Kings more than Santa». thelocal.es. January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
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- ^ Lisa & Tony Sierra (December 19, 2013). «Twelfth Night Bread Recipe – Roscon de Reyes Recipe». Spanishfood.about.com. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ Chelsie Kenyon (December 18, 2013). «Rosca de Reyes». Mexicanfood.about.com. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ Mizner, Elspeth (January 5, 2020). «Epiphany Party Held at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church». Erie News Now.
- ^ a b Staff (January 2, 2012). «Epiphany festival draws travelers to Tarpon Springs, Florida». masslive.com. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ «Feast Day of Epiphany 2012» (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
- ^ Schantz, Mark. «Tarpon Springs to again become Epiphany City USA». The Suncoast News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
- ^ «Great Fruitcake Toss». Colorado-for-free.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
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- ^ «Wales on Britannia: Welsh Culture & Traditions». Britannia.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 1997. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
Sources[edit]
- Epiphanius, Panarion, li, 27, in Migne, Patrologia Graecae (P.G.), XLI, 936 (where it is called by its Latin name: Adversus Haereses)
- Martindale, Cyril (1909). «Epiphany» . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Migne, Jacques-Paul (1858). Patrologiae cursus completus, series graeca. Vol. 2.
Further reading[edit]
- Baxter, Roger (1823). «Christ to be Adored with Offerings» . Meditations For Every Day In The Year. New York: Benziger Brothers.
- Massillon, Jean-Baptiste (1879). «Sermon XXVII: For the day of the Epiphany» . Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon. Thomas Tegg and Son.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epiphany.
Look up Epiphany in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- The Epiphany Season at the Christian Resource Institute
- Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s The Church’s Year: «On the vigil and feast of the Epiphany»
This article is about the Christian feast day. For other uses, see Epiphany.
| Epiphany | |
|---|---|
|
The Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones (1904) |
|
| Also called | Baptism of Jesus, Three Kings Day, Denha, Little Christmas, Theophany, Timkat, Reyes |
| Observed by | Christians |
| Type | Church service, winter swimming, chalking the door, house blessings, star singing |
| Significance |
|
| Date |
|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to |
|
Epiphany ( ə-PIF-ə-nee), (also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian tradition[1]) is a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and the Miracle at Cana.[2]
In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ’s physical manifestation to the Gentiles.[3][4] It is sometimes called Three Kings’ Day, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas.[5] Moreover, the feast of the Epiphany, in some denominations, also initiates the liturgical season of Epiphanytide.[6][7]
Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.[2] The spot marked by Al-Maghtas in Jordan, adjacent to Qasr al-Yahud in the West Bank, is considered to be the original site of the baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.[8][9]
The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1. Those Eastern Churches which are still following the Julian calendar observe the feast on what, according to the internationally used Gregorian calendar, is January 19,[10] because of the current 13-day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.[11]
In many Western Churches, the eve of the feast is celebrated as Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve).[12][13] The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.[14]
Popular Epiphany customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, having one’s house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, as well as attending church services.[15] It is customary for Christians in many localities to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve (Twelfth Night),[16] although those in other Christian countries historically remove them on Candlemas, the conclusion of Epiphanytide.[17][18] According to the first tradition, those who fail to remember to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve must leave them untouched until Candlemas, the second opportunity to remove them; failure to observe this custom is considered inauspicious.[19][20]
Etymology and original word usage[edit]
The word Epiphany is from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epipháneia, meaning manifestation or appearance. It is derived from the verb φαίνειν, phainein, meaning «to appear».[21] In classical Greek it was used for the appearance of dawn, of an enemy in war, but especially of a manifestation of a deity to a worshiper (a theophany). In the Septuagint the word is used of a manifestation of the God of Israel (2 Maccabees 15:27).[22] In the New Testament the word is used in 2 Timothy 1:10 to refer either to the birth of Christ or to his appearance after his resurrection, and five times to refer to his Second Coming.[22]
Alternative names for the feast in Greek include τα Θεοφάνεια, ta Theopháneia «Theophany» (a neuter plural rather than feminine singular), η Ημέρα των Φώτων, i Iméra ton Fóton (modern Greek pronunciation), «The Day of the Lights», and τα Φώτα, ta Fóta, «The Lights».[23]
History[edit]
Epiphany may have originated in the Greek-speaking eastern half of the Roman Empire as a feast to honor the baptism of Jesus. Around 200, Clement of Alexandria wrote that, «But the followers of [the early Christian Gnostic religious teacher] Basilides celebrate the day of His Baptism too, spending the previous night in readings. And they say that it was the 15th of the month Tybi of the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. And some say that it was observed the 11th of the same month.» The Egyptian dates given correspond to January 6 and 10.[24] The Basilides were a Gnostic sect.
The reference to «readings» suggests that the Basilides were reading the Gospels. In ancient gospel manuscripts, the text is arranged to indicate passages for liturgical readings. If a congregation began reading Mark at the beginning of the year, it might arrive at the story of the Baptism on January 6, thus explaining the date of the feast.[25][26] If Christians read Mark in the same format the Basilides did, the two groups could have arrived at the January 6 date independently.[27]
The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by Ammianus Marcellinus.[28] The holiday is listed twice, which suggests a double feast of baptism and birth.[24] The baptism of Jesus was originally assigned to the same date as the birth because Luke 3:23 was misread to mean that Jesus was exactly 30 when he was baptized.
Epiphanius of Salamis says that January 6 is Christ’s «Birthday; that is, His Epiphany» (hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion).[29] He also asserts that the Miracle at Cana occurred on the same calendar day.[30] Epiphanius assigns the Baptism to November 6.[24]
The scope to Epiphany expanded to include the commemoration of his birth; the visit of the magi, all of Jesus’ childhood events, up to and including the Baptism by John the Baptist; and even the miracle at the wedding at Cana in Galilee.[31]
In the Latin-speaking West, the holiday emphasized the visit of the magi. The magi represented the non-Jewish peoples of the world, so this was considered a «revelation to the gentiles.»[32] In this event, Christian writers also inferred a revelation to the Children of Israel. John Chrysostom identified the significance of the meeting between the magi and Herod’s court: «The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews. In this way the birth of Jesus would be made known to all.»[33]
In 385, the pilgrim Egeria (also known as Silvia) described a celebration in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which she called «Epiphany» that commemorated the Nativity.[34] Even at this early date, there was an octave associated with the feast.
In a sermon delivered on December 25, 380, St. Gregory of Nazianzus referred to the day as «the Theophany» (ta theophania, formerly the name of a pagan festival at Delphi),[35] saying expressly that it is a day commemorating «the holy nativity of Christ» and told his listeners that they would soon be celebrating the baptism of Christ.[36] Then, on January 6 and 7, he preached two more sermons,[37] in which he declared that the celebration of the birth of Christ and the visitation of the Magi had already taken place, and that they would now commemorate his Baptism.[38] At this time, celebration of the two events was beginning to be observed on separate occasions, at least in Cappadocia.
Saint John Cassian says that even in his time (beginning of the 5th century), Egyptian monasteries celebrated the Nativity and the Baptism together on January 6.[39] The Armenian Apostolic Church continues to celebrate January 6 as the only commemoration of the Nativity.
Music[edit]
Classical[edit]
Johann Sebastian Bach composed in Leipzig two cantatas for the feast which concluded Christmastide:
- Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, (1724)[40]
- Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123, (1725)[41]
Part VI of his Christmas Oratorio, Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, was also designated to be performed during the service for Epiphany.[42]
In Ottorino Respighi’s symphonic tone poem Roman Festivals, the final movement is subtitled «Bofana» and takes place during Epiphany.
Carols and hymns[edit]
«Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit» is a German Epiphany hymn by Georg Weissel, first printed in 1642.
Two very familiar Christmas carols are associated with the Epiphany holiday: «As with gladness, men of old», written by William Chatterton Dix in 1860 as a response to the many legends which had grown up surrounding the Magi;[43][44] and «We Three Kings of Orient Are», written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr. – then an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church[45] – who was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant (which featured this hymn) for the students of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857 while serving as the seminary’s music director.
Another popular hymn, less known culturally as a carol, is «Songs of thankfulness and praise», with words written by Christopher Wordsworth and commonly sung to the tune «St. Edmund» by Charles Steggall.
A carol used as an anthem for the Epiphany holiday is «The Three Kings».
Date of the celebration[edit]
Holy (Epiphany) water vessel from 15th–16th centuries. It is found on Hisar near the town of Leskovac, Serbia. Photographed in National museum of Leskovac.
Until 1955, when Pope Pius XII abolished all but three liturgical octaves, the Latin Church celebrated Epiphany as an eight-day feast, known as the Octave of Epiphany, beginning on January 6 and ending on January 13. The Sunday within that octave had been since 1893 the feast of the Holy Family, and Christmastide was reckoned as the twelve days ending on January 5, followed by the January 6–13 octave. The 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar made the date variable to some extent, stating: «The Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on 6 January, unless, where it is not observed as a holy day of obligation, it has been assigned to the Sunday occurring between 2 and 8 January.»[46] It also made the Feast of the Epiphany part of Christmas Time, which it defined as extending from the First Vespers of Christmas (the evening of December 24) up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany (the Sunday after January 6).[47]
Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist and United Protestant congregations, along with those of other denominations, may celebrate Epiphany on January 6, on the following Sunday within the Epiphany week (octave), or at another time (Epiphany Eve January 5, the nearest Sunday, etc.) as local custom dictates.[48][49] Prior to 1976, Anglican churches observed an eight-day octave, beginning on January 6. Today, The Epiphany of our Lord,[50] classified as a Principal Feast, is observed in some Anglican provinces on January 6 exclusively (e.g., the Anglican Church of Canada)[50] but in the Church of England the celebration is «on 6 January or transferred to the Sunday falling between 2 and 8 January».[51]
Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany (Theophany) on January 6. Some, as in Greece, employ the modern Revised Julian calendar, which until 2800 coincides with the Gregorian calendar, the one in use for civil purposes in most countries. Other Eastern churches, as in Russia, hold to the older Julian calendar for reckoning church dates. In these old-calendar churches Epiphany falls at present on Gregorian January 19 – which is January 6 in the Julian calendar.
The Indian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Epiphany, Denaha [Syriac term which means rising] on January 6, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates on January 19 as the Timkath festival, which was included in the UNESCO heritage list of festivals.
Epiphany season[edit]
In some Churches, the feast of the Epiphany initiates the Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide.
In Advent 2000, the Church of England, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, introduced into its liturgy an optional Epiphany season by approving the Common Worship series of services as an alternative to those in the Book of Common Prayer, which remains the Church’s normative liturgy and in which no such liturgical season appears. An official publication of the Church of England states: «The Christmas season is often celebrated for twelve days, ending with the Epiphany. Contemporary use has sought to express an alternative tradition, in which Christmas lasts for a full forty days, ending with the Feast of the Presentation on 2 February.»[52] It presents the latter part of this period as the Epiphany season, comprising the Sundays of Epiphany and ending «only with the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)».[53]
Another interpretation of «Epiphany season» applies the term to the period from Epiphany to the day before Ash Wednesday. Some Methodists in the United States and Singapore follow these liturgies.[6][54] Lutherans celebrate the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday as the Transfiguration of our Lord, and it has been said that they call the whole period from Epiphany to then as Epiphany season.[55] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America used the terms «Time after Epiphany» to refer to this period.[56] The expression with «after» has been interpreted as making the period in question correspond to that of Ordinary Time.[57][58]
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) does not celebrate Epiphany or Pentecost as seasons; for this Church, expressions such as «Fifth Sunday after Epiphany» indicate the passing of time, rather than a liturgical season. It instead uses the term «Ordinary Time».[59]
In the Catholic Church, «Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after 6 January»;[47] and «Ordinary Time begins on the Monday which follows the Sunday occurring after 6 January».[60] Before the 1969 revision of its liturgy, the Sundays following the Octave of Epiphany or, when this was abolished, following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which was instituted to take the place of the Octave Day of Epiphany were named as the «Second (etc., up to Sixth) Sunday after Epiphany», as the at least 24 Sundays following Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday were known as the «Second (etc.) Sunday after Pentecost». (If a year had more than 24 Sundays after Pentecost, up to four unused post-Epiphany Sundays were inserted between the 23rd and the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.) The Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices, which has received the imprimatur of John Michael D’Arcy, with reference to Epiphanytide, thus states that «The Epiphany season extends from January 6 to Septuagesima Sunday, and has from one to six Sundays, according to the date of Easter. White is the color for the octave; green is the liturgical color for the season.»[61]
Epiphany in different Christian traditions[edit]
Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi, with only a minor reference to the baptism of Jesus and the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation. The miracle at the Wedding at Cana is also celebrated during Epiphany as a first manifestation of Christ’s public life.[62]
Western churches[edit]
K † M † B † 2009 written on a door of a rectory in a Czech village, to bless the house by Christ
Even before 354,[63] the Western Church had separated the celebration of the Nativity of Christ as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25; it reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ, especially to the Magi, but also at his baptism and at the wedding feast of Cana.[64] In 1955 a separate feast of the Baptism of the Lord was instituted, thus weakening further the connection in the West between the feast of the Epiphany and the commemoration of the baptism of Christ. However, Hungarians, in an apparent reference to baptism, refer to the January 6 celebration as Vízkereszt, a term that recalls the words «víz» (water) and «kereszt, kereszt-ség» (baptism).
Liturgical practice in Western churches[edit]
Many in the West, such as adherents of the Anglican Communion, Lutheran Churches and Methodist Churches, observe a twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 5, known as Christmastide or The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church determine since 1969 that «Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6».[47] Some regions and especially some communities celebrating the Tridentine Mass extend the season to as many as forty days, ending Christmastide traditionally on Candlemas (February 2).
On the Feast of the Epiphany in some parts of central Europe the priest, wearing white vestments, blesses Epiphany water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. The chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi (traditionally, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), over the doors of churches and homes. The initials may also be interpreted as the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat (may Christ bless the house).
According to ancient custom, the priest announced the date of Easter on the feast of Epiphany. This tradition dated from a time when calendars were not readily available, and the church needed to publicize the date of Easter, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on it.[65] The proclamation may be sung or proclaimed at the ambo by a deacon, cantor, or reader either after the reading of the Gospel or after the postcommunion prayer.[65]
The Roman Missal thus provides a formula with appropriate chant (in the tone of the Exsultet) for proclaiming on Epiphany, wherever it is customary to do so, the dates in the calendar for the celebration of Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, Ascension of Jesus Christ, Pentecost, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the First Sunday of Advent that will mark the following liturgical year.[66]
Some western rite churches, such as the Anglican and Lutheran churches, will follow practises similar to the Catholic Church. Church cantatas for the Feast of Epiphany were written by Protestant composers such as Georg Philipp Telemann, Christoph Graupner, Johann Sebastian Bach and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel.[67][68][69][70]
Eastern Orthodox churches[edit]
The name of the feast as celebrated in the Orthodox churches may be rendered in English as the Theophany, as closer in form to the Greek Θεοφάνεια («God shining forth» or «divine manifestation»). Here it is one of the Great Feasts of the liturgical year, being third in rank, behind only Paskha (Easter) and Pentecost in importance. It is celebrated on January 6 of the calendar that a particular Church uses. On the Julian calendar, which some of the Orthodox churches follow, that date corresponds, during the present century, to January 19 on the Gregorian or Revised Julian calendar. The earliest reference to the feast in the Eastern Church is a remark by St. Clement of Alexandria in Stromateis, I, xxi, 45:
And there are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day… And the followers of Basilides hold the day of his baptism as a festival, spending the night before in readings. And they say that it was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, the fifteenth day of the month of Tubi; and some that it was the eleventh of the same month.
(11 and 15 of Tubi are January 6 and 10, respectively.)
If this is a reference to a celebration of Christ’s birth, as well as of his baptism, on January 6, it corresponds to what continues to be the custom of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which celebrates the birth of Jesus on January 6 of the calendar used, calling the feast that of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord.[71][72]
Origen’s list of festivals (in Contra Celsum, VIII, xxii) omits any reference to Epiphany. The first reference to an ecclesiastical feast of the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI:ii), is in 361.
In parts of the Eastern Church, January 6 continued for some time as a composite feast that included the Nativity of Jesus: though Constantinople adopted December 25 to commemorate Jesus’ birth in the fourth century, in other parts the Nativity of Jesus continued to be celebrated on January 6, a date later devoted exclusively to commemorating his Baptism.[63]
Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis at this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Second Person of the Trinity at the time of his baptism. It is also celebrated because, according to tradition, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist marked one of only two occasions when all three Persons of the Trinity manifested themselves simultaneously to humanity: God the Father by speaking through the clouds, God the Son being baptized in the river, and God the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove descending from heaven (the other occasion was the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor). Thus the holy day is considered to be a Trinitarian feast.
The Orthodox consider Jesus’ Baptism to be the first step towards the Crucifixion, and there are some parallels in the hymnography used on this day and the hymns chanted on Good Friday.
Liturgical practice in Eastern churches[edit]
Forefeast: The liturgical Forefeast of Theophany begins on January 2[73] and concludes with the Paramony on January 5.
Paramony: The Eve of the Feast is called Paramony (Greek: παραμονή, Slavonic: navechérie). Paramony is observed as a strict fast day, on which those faithful who are physically able, refrain from food until the first star is observed in the evening, when a meal with wine and oil may be taken. On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated, thus tying together this feast with Nativity and Good Friday. The Royal Hours are followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with the Divine Liturgy. During the Vespers, fifteen Old Testament lections which foreshadow the Baptism of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. If the Feast of the Theophany falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Royal Hours are chanted on the previous Friday, and on the Paramony the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated in the morning. The fasting is lessened to some degree in this case.
Theophany Crucession in Bulgaria. The priests are going to throw a wooden cross in the Yantra river. Believers will then jump into the icy waters to recover the cross.
Blessing of Waters: The Orthodox Churches perform the Great Blessing of Waters on Theophany.[74] The blessing is normally done twice: once on the Eve of the Feast—usually at a Baptismal font inside the church—and then again on the day of the feast, outdoors at a body of water. Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and people go in a Crucession (procession with the cross) to the nearest body of water, be it a beach, harbor, quay, river, lake, swimming pool, water depot, etc. (ideally, it should be a body of «living water»). At the end of the ceremony the priest will bless the waters. In the Greek practice, he does this by casting a cross into the water. If swimming is feasible on the spot, any number of volunteers may try to recover the cross. The person who gets the cross first swims back and returns it to the priest, who then delivers a special blessing to the swimmer and their household. Certain such ceremonies have achieved particular prominence, such as the one held annually at Tarpon Springs, Florida. In Russia, where the winters are severe, a hole will be cut into the ice so that the waters may be blessed. In such conditions, the cross is not cast into the water, but is held securely by the priest and dipped three times into the water.
The water that is blessed on this day is sometimes known as «Theophany Water», though usually just «holy water», and is taken home by the faithful, and used with prayer as a blessing. People will not only bless themselves and their homes by sprinkling with holy water, but will also drink it. The Orthodox Church teaches that holy water differs from ordinary water by virtue of the incorruptibility bestowed upon it by a blessing that transforms its very nature.[75] a miracle attested to as early as St. John Chrysostom.[76]
Theophany is a traditional day for performing Baptisms, and this is reflected in the Divine Liturgy by singing the baptismal hymn, «As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia,» in place of the Trisagion.
House Blessings: On Theophany the priest will begin making the round of the parishioner’s homes to bless them. He will perform a short prayer service in each home, and then go through the entire house, gardens and outside-buildings, blessing them with the newly blessed Theophany Water, while all sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast. This is normally done on Theophany, or at least during the Afterfeast, but if the parishioners are numerous, and especially if many live far away from the church, it may take some time to bless each house. Traditionally, these blessings should all be finished before the beginning of Great Lent.
Afterfeast: The Feast of Theophany is followed by an eight-day Afterfeast on which the normal fasting laws are suspended. The Saturday and Sunday after Theophany have special readings assigned to them, which relate to the Temptation of Christ and to penance and perseverance in the Christian struggle. There is thus a liturgical continuum between the Feast of Theophany and the beginning of Great Lent.
Oriental Orthodox[edit]
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the feast is known as Timkat and is celebrated on the day that the Gregorian calendar calls January 19, but on January 20 in years when Enkutatash in the Ethiopian calendar falls on Gregorian September 12 (i.e. when the following February in the Gregorian calendar will have 29 days). The celebration of this feast features blessing of water and solemn processions with the sacred tabot. A priest carries this to a body of water where it stays overnight, with the Metsehafe Qeddassie celebrated in the early morning. Later in the morning, the water is blessed to the accompaniment of the reading of the four Gospel accounts of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the people are sprinkled with or go into the water. The tabot returns in procession to the church.
Among the Syriac Christians the feast is called denho (up-going), a name to be connected with the notion of rising light expressed in Luke 1:78. In the East Syriac rite, the season of Epiphany (Epiphanytide) is known as Denha.
In the Armenian Apostolic Church, January 6 is celebrated as the Nativity (Soorp Tsnund) and Theophany of Christ. The feast is preceded by a seven-day fast. On the eve of the feast, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. This liturgy is referred to as the Chragaluytsi Patarag (the Eucharist of the lighting of the lamps) in honor of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God. Both the Armenian Apostolic Church’s and Assyrian Church of the East’s liturgy is followed by a blessing of water, during which the cross is immersed in the water, symbolizing Jesus’ descent into the Jordan, and holy myron (chrism) is poured in, symbolic of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The next morning, after the Liturgy, the cross is removed from the vessel of holy water and all come forward to kiss the cross and partake of the blessed water.
National and local customs[edit]
A traditional Bulgarian all-male horo dance in ice-cold water on Theophany
Epiphany is celebrated with a wide array of customs around the world. In some cultures, the greenery and nativity scenes put up at Christmas are taken down at Epiphany. In other cultures these remain up until Candlemas on February 2. In countries historically shaped by Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism) these customs often involve gift giving, «king cakes» and a celebratory close to the Christmas season. In traditionally Orthodox nations, water, baptismal rites and house blessings are typically central to these celebrations.
Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay[edit]
In Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as in other Latin American countries, the day is called «Día de Reyes» (The Day of Kings, a reference to the Biblical Magi), commemorating the arrival of the Magi to revere Jesus as son of God. The night of January 5 into the morning of January 6 is known as «Noche de Reyes» (The Night of Kings) and children leave their shoes by the door, along with grass and water for the camels. On the morning of January 6, they get up early and rush to see their shoes, where they are expecting to find gifts left by the «Reyes» who, according to tradition, bypass the houses of children who are awake. On January 6, a «Rosca de Reyes» (a ring-shaped Epiphany cake) is eaten and all Christmas decorations are traditionally put away.
Bulgaria[edit]
In Bulgaria, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 and is known as Bogoyavlenie («Manifestation of God»), Кръщение Господне (Krashtenie Gospodne or «Baptism of the Lord») or Yordanovden («Day of Jordan», referring to the river). On this day, a wooden cross is thrown by a priest into the sea, river or lake and young men race to retrieve it. As the date is in early January and the waters are close to freezing, this is considered an honorable act and it is said that good health will be bestowed upon the home of the swimmer who is the first to reach the cross.[77]
In the town of Kalofer, a traditional horo with drums and bagpipes is played in the icy waters of the Tundzha river before the throwing of the cross.[78][79]
Benelux[edit]
Children in Flanders celebrating Driekoningen
The Dutch and Flemish call this day Driekoningen, while German speakers call it Dreikönigstag (Three Kings’ Day). In the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and neighboring Germany, children in groups of three (symbolizing the Biblical Magi) proceed in costume from house to house while singing songs typical for the occasion, and receiving a coin or some sweets at each door. They may each carry a paper lantern symbolizing the star.[80] In some places, especially Holland, these troupes gather for competitions and present their skits/songs for an audience. As in Belgium, Koningentaart (Kings’ tart), puff pastry with almond filling, is prepared with a black bean hidden inside. Whoever finds the bean in his or her piece is king or queen for the day. A more typically Dutch version is Koningenbrood, or Kings’ bread. In the Netherlands, the traditions have died out, except for very few places.[81] Another Low Countries tradition on Epiphany is to open up doors and windows to let good luck in for the coming year.
Brazil[edit]
In Brazil, the day is called «Dia dos Reis» (The Day of Kings) and in the rest of Latin America «Día de Reyes» commemorating the arrival of the Magi to confirm Jesus as son of God. The night of January 5 into the morning of January 6 is known as «Night of Kings» (also called the Twelfth Night) and is feasted with music, sweets and regional dishes as the last night of Nativity, when Christmas decorations are traditionally put away.[82]
Chile[edit]
This day is sometimes known as the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Royal Magi) or La Pascua de los Negros (Holy Day of the Black men)[83] in Chile, although the latter is rarely heard, because it was the day when slaves were allowed not to work.
Dominican Republic[edit]
In the Dominican Republic, the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Royal Magi) and in this day children receive gifts on the christmas tree in a similar fashion to Christmas day. On this day public areas are very active with children accompanied by their parents trying out their new toys.
A common practice is to leave toys under the children’s beds on January 5, so when they wake up on January 6, they are made to believe the gifts and toys were left from Santa Claus or the Three Kings. however, and particularly in the larger cities and in the North, local traditions are now being observed and intertwined with the greater North American Santa Claus tradition, as well as with other holidays such as Halloween, due to Americanization via film and television, creating an economy of gifting tradition that spans from Christmas Day until January 6.
Egypt[edit]
The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, which falls on 11 Tobe of the Coptic calendar, as the moment when in the baptism of Jesus the skies opened and God himself revealed to all as father of Jesus and all mankind. It is then a moment of revelation of epiphany. This celebration started to include all the processes of incarnation of Jesus, from his birth on Christmas until his baptism in the river Jordan. For the Coptic Orthodox Church it is also a moment in which the path of Jesus to the Cross begins. Therefore, in many celebrations there are certain similarities with the celebrations of Holy Friday during the time of Easter. Since the Epiphany is one of the seven great feasts of the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is a day of strict fasting, and several religious celebrations are held on this day. The day is related to the blessing of waters that are used all throughout the year in the church celebrations, and it is a privileged day to celebrate baptisms. It is also a day in which many houses are blessed with water. It may take several days for the local priest to bless all the houses of the parishioners that ask for it, and so the blessing of the houses may go into the after-feasts of the Epiphany celebrations. However, it must be done before the beginning of Lent.[84]
England[edit]
In England, the celebration of the night before Epiphany, Epiphany Eve, is known as Twelfth Night (the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6), and was a traditional time for mumming and the wassail. The Yule log was left burning until this day, and the charcoal left was kept until the next Christmas to kindle next year’s Yule log, as well as to protect the house from fire and lightning.[85] In the past, Epiphany was also a day for playing practical jokes, similar to April Fool’s Day. Today in England, Twelfth Night is still as popular a day for plays as when Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was first performed in 1601, and annual celebrations involving the Holly Man are held in London.[86] A traditional dish for Epiphany was Twelfth Cake, a rich, dense, typically English fruitcake. As in Europe, whoever found the baked-in bean was king for a day, but uniquely to English tradition other items were sometimes included in the cake. Whoever found the clove was the villain, the twig, the fool, and the rag, the tart.[clarification needed] Anything spicy or hot, like ginger snaps and spiced ale, was considered proper Twelfth Night fare, recalling the costly spices brought by the Wise Men. Another English Epiphany sweetmeat was the traditional jam tart, made appropriate to the occasion by being fashioned in the form of a six-pointed star symbolising the Star of Bethlehem, and thus called Epiphany tart. The discerning English cook sometimes tried to use thirteen different colored jams on the tart on this day for luck, creating a pastry resembling stained glass.[87]
Ethiopia and Eritrea[edit]
Orthodox priests dancing during the celebration of Timkat
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the feast is known as Timkat and is celebrated on the day that the Gregorian calendar calls January 19, but on January 20 in years when New Year in the Ethiopian calendar falls on Gregorian September 12 (i.e. when the following February in the Gregorian calendar will have 29 days). The celebration of this feast features blessing of water and solemn processions with the sacred Tabot.[88]
Finland[edit]
In Finland, Epiphany is called loppiainen, a name which goes back to the 1600s. In the 1500s the Swedish-Finnish Lutheran church called Epiphany «Day of the Holy Three Kings», while before this, the older term Epiphania was used. In the Karelian language Epiphany is called vieristä, meaning cross, from the Orthodox custom of submerging a cross three times to bless water on this day.[89] Today, in the Lutheran church, Epiphany is a day dedicated to a focus on missionary work in addition to the Wise Men narrative. Between 1973 and 1991 Epiphany was observed in Finland on a Saturday each year no earlier than January 6, and no later than January 12. After that time however, the traditional date of January 6 was restored and has since been observed once again as a national public holiday.
The Christmas tree is traditionally taken out of the house on Epiphany. While the term loppiainen means «ending [of Christmas time],» in reality, Christmas celebrations in Finland are extended to Nuutti’s or St. Canute’s Day on January 13, completing the Scandinavian Twenty Days of Christmas.
Francophone Europe[edit]
In France people share one of two types of king cake. In the northern half of France and Belgium the cake is called a galette des Rois, and is a round, flat, and golden cake made with flake pastry and often filled with frangipane, fruit, or chocolate. In the south, in Provence, and in the south-west, a crown-shaped cake or brioche filled with fruit called a gâteau des Rois is eaten. In Romandie, both types can be found though the latter is more common. Both types of cake contain a charm, usually a porcelain or plastic figurine, called a fève (broad bean in French).[90]
The cake is cut by the youngest (and therefore most innocent) person at the table to assure that the recipient of the bean is random. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket becomes «king» or «queen» and wears a paper crown provided with the cake. In some regions this person has a choice between offering a beverage to everyone around the table (usually a sparkling wine or champagne), or volunteering to host the next king cake at their home. This can extend the festivities through all of January.[91]
German-speaking Europe[edit]
Traditional house blessing in chalk, written by Sternsinger on the door beam of the home
January 6 is a public holiday in Austria, three federal states of Germany, and three cantons of Switzerland, as well as in parts of Graubünden.
In the German-speaking lands, groups of young people called Sternsinger (star singers) travel from door to door. They are dressed as the Biblical Magi, and their leader carries a star, usually of painted wood attached to a broom handle. Often these groups are four girls, or two boys and two girls in order to sing in four-part harmony. They sing traditional songs and newer ones such as «Stern über Bethlehem». They are not necessarily three wise men. German Lutherans often note in a lighthearted fashion that the Bible never specifies that the Weisen (Magi) were men, or that there were three. The star singers solicit donations for worthy causes, such as efforts to end hunger in Africa, organized jointly by the Catholic and Protestant churches, and they will also be offered treats at the homes they visit.[92] The young people then perform the traditional house blessing, by marking the year over the doorway with chalk. In Roman Catholic communities this may even today be a serious spiritual event with the priest present, but among Protestants it is more a tradition, and a part of the German notion of Gemütlichkeit. Usually on the Sunday following Epiphany, these donations are brought into churches. Here all of the children who have gone out as star singers, once again in their costumes, form a procession of sometimes dozens of wise men and stars. The German Chancellor and Parliament also receive a visit from the star singers at Epiphany.[93]
Some Germans eat a Three Kings cake, which may be a golden pastry ring filled with orange and spice representing gold, frankincense and myrrh. Most often found in Switzerland, these cakes take the form of Buchteln but for Epiphany, studded with citron, and baked as seven large buns in a round rather than square pan, forming a crown. Or they may be made of typical rich Christmas bread dough with cardamom and pearl sugar in the same seven bun crown shape. These varieties are most typically purchased in supermarkets, with the trinket and gold paper crown included.[94] As in other countries, the person who receives the piece or bun containing the trinket or whole almond becomes the king or queen for a day. Epiphany is also an especially joyful occasion for the young and young at heart, as this is the day dedicated to plündern – that is, when Christmas trees are «plundered» of their cookies and sweets by eager children (and adults) and when gingerbread houses, and any other good things left in the house from Christmas, are devoured.[95] Lastly, there is a German rhyme saying, or Bauernregel, that goes Ist’s bis Dreikönigs kein Winter, kommt keiner dahinter meaning «If there hasn’t been any winter (weather) until Epiphany, none is coming afterward.» Another of these Bauernregel, (German farmer’s rules) for Epiphany states: Dreikönigsabend hell und klar, verspricht ein gutes Weinjahr or «If the eve of Epiphany is bright and clear, it foretells a good wine year.»
Greece, Cyprus[edit]
In Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora throughout the world, the feast is called the Theophany,[96] or colloquially Phōta (Greek: Φώτα, «Lights»).[97] It is the «Great Celebration» or Theotromi. In some regions of Macedonia (West) it is the biggest festival of the year. The Baptism of Christ symbolizes the rebirth of man, its importance is such that until the fourth century Christians celebrated New Year on this day. Customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters.[98] It marks the end of the traditional ban on sailing, as the tumultuous winter seas are cleansed of the mischief-prone kalikántzaroi, the goblins that try to torment God-fearing Christians through the festive season. During this ceremony, a cross is thrown into the water, and the men compete to retrieve it for good luck. The Phota form the middle of another festive triduum, together with Epiphany Eve, when children sing the Epiphany carols, and the great feast of St. John the Baptist (January 7 and eve),[99] when the numerous Johns and Joans celebrate their name-day.
It is a time for sanctification, which in Greece means expiation, purification of the people and protection against the influence of demons. This concept is certainly not strictly Christian, but has roots in ancient worship. In most parts of Greece a ritual called «small sanctification», Protagiasi or «Enlightment» is practiced on the eve of Epiphany. The priest goes door to door with the cross and a branch of basil to «sanctify» or «brighten» the rooms by sprinkling them with holy water. The protagiasi casts away the goblins ; bonfires are also lit in some places for that purpose. The «Great Blessing» happens in church on the day of the Epiphany. In the Churches in a special rig embellished upon which brought large pot full of water[clarify]. Then the «Dive of the Cross» is performed: a cross is throwned by the priest in the sea, a nearby river, a lake or an ancient Roman cistern (as in Athens). According to popular belief, this ritual gives the water the power to cleanse and sanitize. In many places, after the dive of the cross, the locals run to the beaches or the shores of rivers or lakes to wash their agricultural tools and even icons. Indeed, according common folk belief, icons lose their original strength and power with the passage of time, but they can be restored by dipping the icons in the water cleansed by the cross. This may be a survival of ancient beliefs. Athenians held a ceremony called «washing»: the statue of Athena was carried in procession to the coast of Faliro where it was washed with salt water to cleanse it and renew its sacred powers.
Today, women in many parts repeating this ancient custom of washing the images but combined with other instruments of medieval and ancient magic. As the plate of Mytilene while the divers dive to catch the Cross women at the same time «getting a detaining (= pumpkin) water from 40 waves and then with cotton dipped it clean icons without talking to throughout this process («dumb water») and then the water is thrown out of the not pressed (in the crucible of the church).[clarify][citation needed]
Guadeloupe Islands[edit]
Celebrations in Guadeloupe have a different feel from elsewhere in the world. Epiphany here does not mean the last day of Christmas celebrations, but rather the first day of Kannaval (Carnival), which lasts until the evening before Ash Wednesday. Carnival, in turn, ends with the grand brilé Vaval, the burning of Vaval, the king of the Kannaval, amidst the cries and wails of the crowd.[100]
India[edit]
Diyas (lights) are used to celebrate Epiphany in some Kerala Christian households.
In parts of southern India, Epiphany is called the Three Kings Festival and is celebrated in front of the local church like a fair. This day marks the close of the Advent and Christmas season and people remove the cribs and nativity sets at home. In Goa Epiphany may be locally known by its Portuguese name Festa dos Reis. In the village of Reis Magos, in Goa, there is a fort called Reis Magos (Wise Men) or Três Reis Magos for Biblical Magi. Celebrations include a widely attended procession, with boys arrayed as the Magi, leading to the Franciscan Chapel of the Magi near the Goan capital of Panjim.[101] Other popular Epiphany processions are held in Chandor. Here three young boys in regal robes and splendid crowns descend the nearby hill of Our Lady of Mercy on horseback towards the main church where a three-hour festival Mass is celebrated. The route before them is decorated with streamers, palm leaves and balloons with the smallest children present lining the way, shouting greetings to the Kings. The Kings are traditionally chosen, one each, from Chandor’s three hamlets of Kott, Cavorim and Gurdolim, whose residents helped build the Chandor church in 1645.
In the past the kings were chosen only from among high-caste families, but since 1946 the celebration has been open to all. Participation is still expensive as it involves getting a horse, costumes, and providing a lavish buffet to the community afterwards, in all totaling some 100,000 rupees (about US$2,250) per king. This is undertaken gladly since having son serve as a king is considered a great honor and a blessing on the family.[102]
Cansaulim in South Goa is similarly famous for its Three Kings festival, which draws tourists from around the state and India. Three boys are selected from the three neighboring villages of Quelim, Cansaulim and Arrosim to present the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in a procession. Only a native of these villages may serve as king; outsiders are barred from the role. Throughout the year, excitement runs high in the villages to see who will be chosen. The boys selected are meticulously groomed, and must grow their hair long in time for the festival. The procession involves the three kings wearing jeweled red velvet robes and crowns, riding white horses decked with flowers and fine cloth, and they are shaded by colorful parasols, with a retinue of hundreds.[103][104]
The procession ends at the local church built in 1581, and in its central window a large white star hangs, and colored banners stream out across the square from those around it. Inside, the church will have been decorated with garlands. After presenting their gifts and reverencing the altar and Nativity scene, the kings take special seats of honor and assist at the High Mass.[105]
The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala State, Epiphany is known by its Syriac name Denha. Saint Thomas Christians, like other Eastern Christians, celebrate Denha as a great feast to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. The liturgical season Denhakalam («Weeks of Epiphany») commemorates the second revelation at the Baptism and the subsequent public life of Jesus. Denha is celebrated on January 6 by the Syro-Malabar Church in two ways – Pindiperunnal («Plantain trunk feast») and Rakkuliperunal («Feast with a night bath»).[106]
Ireland[edit]
The Irish call the day the Feast of the Epiphany or traditionally Little Christmas or «Women’s Christmas» (Irish: Nollaig na mBan). On Nollaig na mBan, women traditionally rested and celebrated for themselves after the cooking and work of the Christmas holidays. The custom was for women to gather on this day for a special meal, but on the occasion of Epiphany accompanied by wine, to honor the Miracle at the Wedding at Cana.[citation needed]
Today, women may dine at a restaurant or gather in a pub in the evening. They may also receive gifts from children, grandchildren or other family members on this day. Other Epiphany customs, which symbolize the end of the Christmas season, are popular in Ireland, such as the burning the sprigs of Christmas holly in the fireplace which have been used as decorations during the past twelve days.[107]
The Epiphany celebration serves as the initial setting for – and anchors the action, theme, and climax of – James Joyce’s short story «The Dead» from his 1914 collection, Dubliners.
Italy[edit]
In Italy, Epiphany is a national holiday and is associated with the figure of the Befana (the name being a corruption of the word Epifania), a broomstick-riding old woman who, on the night between January 5 and 6, brings gifts to children or a lump of «coal» (really black candy) for the times they have not been good during the year. The legend told of her is that, having missed her opportunity to bring a gift to the child Jesus together with the Biblical Magi, she now brings gifts to other children on that night.[108][109][24]
However, in some parts of today’s Italian state, different traditions exist, and instead of the Befana it is the three Magi who bring gifts. in Sardinia, for example, where local traditions and customs of the Hispanic period coexist, the tradition of the Biblical Magi (in Sardinian language, Sa Pasca de is Tres Reis) bringing gifts to children is very present.
Jordan[edit]
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
|
Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, believed to be the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptised by John the Baptist |
|
| Location | Balqa Governorate, Jordan |
| Reference | 1446 |
| Inscription | 2015 (39th Session) |
| Website | www.baptismsite.com |
Thousands of Jordanian Christians, tourists and pilgrims flock to Al-Maghtas site on the east bank of the Jordan River in January every year to mark Epiphany, where large masses and celebrations are held.[110] «Al-Maghtas» meaning «baptism» or «immersion» in Arabic, is an archaeological World Heritage site in Jordan, officially known as «Baptism Site «Bethany Beyond the Jordan» (Al-Maghtas)». It is considered to be the original location of the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist and has been venerated as such since at least the Byzantine period.[8]
- John 1:28: These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.
The site has then seen several archaeological digs, four papal visits and state visits and attracts tourists and pilgrimage activity.[110] Approximately 81,000 people visited the site in 2016, mostly European, American and Arab tourists.[111]
Latvia[edit]
Epiphany is known in Latvia as Trijkungu diena (Three Kings Day) by Catholics or Zvaigznes diena (Star Day) by Lutherans after the custom of star singing, and the Star of Bethlehem which led the Magi to the Christ Child.[112] In the past bright stars of fabric were sewn onto the background of dark colored quilts, representing the night sky. Epiphany was a day of enjoyment, spent in horse-drawn open sleighs, and these quilts would then be taken along to cover the laps of the merry riders.[113] If Epiphany Day was bright and mild and the sun «warmed the horses’ backs» it was said that the coming year would bring only peace. If the night before Epiphany saw clear starry skies, it meant Latvia could expect a fine harvest in the coming Summer. Weaving and wood-cutting were «bad luck», giving both men and women a proper holiday, and if a dog was heard barking on Epiphany one ought to look for his or her future spouse in that same direction. Special three-corner apple cakes are eaten on this day, and as in other countries, star singing, visiting and house blessings have long been popular.[114]
Lebanon[edit]
Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, is the feast for the Roman Church that commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, the magi. However, in the Maronite Church, in accordance with the ancient tradition, it represents the public announcement of Jesus’ mission when he was baptized in the Jordan by John the Forerunner, also known as «John the Baptist». On the occasion, Lebanese Christians pray for their deceased.[115]
It is celebrated by attending church most often to the midnight mass by the maronites. The reason why it is at midnight is because the Christ will be passing to bless homes, also Lebanese Christians who gathered for the mass congratulate each other on that day by saying: «El Deyim Deyim» (Arabic: دايم دايم) which translates as «The permanent is permanent». They also mix dough made out of water and flour only and it rises outdoors with no yeast by being blessed.[115]
North Macedonia[edit]
Epiphany procession in the capital of North Macedonia Skopje near Stone Bridge on the Vardar river in the early 1920s
Epiphany in North Macedonia is known as Vodici (Водици).[116] On this day the priest throws a wooden cross into the water, to symbolize the baptism of Christ.[citation needed] Men jump into the cold water to retrieve the cross, and whoever retrieves it is believed to be blessed during the whole year.[citation needed] These are very festive gatherings with many spectacles attending the sites. Special food jelly from pork and beef meat and bones called «pacha» (пача) or «pivtii» (пивтии) is prepared the day before, but served on the day after Epiphany, together with warm local brandy, rakija (ракија).[117] Epiphany is a non-working day for the Orthodox believers in North Macedonia.[118]
Malta[edit]
In Malta, Epiphany is commonly known as It-Tre Re (The Three Kings). Until the 1980s, January 6 was a public holiday, but today the Maltese celebrate Epiphany on the first Sunday of the year. Children and students still take January 6 as a school holiday and Christmas decorations are lit up through this day on most public streets. The Maltese also have a long-standing custom of presenting concerts in honor of Epiphany, including the prestigious annual Epiphany Concert organized by the Malta Council for Culture and Arts, performed by the National Orchestra. In 2010, the Epiphany Concert which used to be held before a select audience, was opened to the general public following a decision by the President. The Ministry of Education and Culture therefore moved from the venue from the Palace to the historic Sacra Infermeria, also known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre.[119] Qagħaq tal-Għasel or tal-Qastanija (Maltese honey rings) are typically served at Epiphany in Malta.
Mexico[edit]
The evening of January 5 marks the Twelfth Night of Christmas and is when the figurines of the three Biblical Magi are added to the nativity scene. Traditionally in Mexico, as with many other Latin American countries, Santa Claus doesn’t hold the cachet that he does in the United States. Rather, it is the Magi who are the bearers of gifts, who leave presents in or near the shoes of small children.[120] Mexican families also commemorate the date by eating Rosca de reyes. In modern Mexico however, and particularly in the larger cities and in the North, local traditions are now being observed and intertwined with the greater North American Santa Claus tradition, as well as with other holidays such as Halloween, due to Americanization via film and television, creating an economy of gifting tradition that spans from Christmas Day until January 6.
Peru[edit]
Feast of Día de Reyes in Peru
Peru shares Epiphany customs with Spain and the rest of Latin America. Peruvian national lore holds that Francisco Pizarro was the first to call Lima «Ciudad de los Reyes» (City of the Kings) because the date of the Epiphany coincided with the day he and his two companions searched for, and found, an ideal location for a new capital. Even more popular in Peru than gift giving is the custom of the Bajada de Reyes when parties are held in honor of the taking down of family and public nativity scenes, and carefully putting them away until the next Christmas.[121]
Philippines[edit]
In the Philippines, Epiphany is known as «Three Kings’ Day» and Pasko ng Matatanda («Feast of the Elderly»), and marks the official close of the country’s Christmas season. As a day of feasting, some Filipinos celebrate with gift-giving and greet each other «Happy Three Kings!».[122]
Poland[edit]
In Poland, Epiphany, or «Trzech Króli» (Three Kings) is celebrated in grand fashion, with huge parades held welcoming the Wise Men, often riding on camels or other animals from the zoo, in Warsaw, Poznań[123] and over 2,000 other cities. The Wise Men pass out sweets, children process in renaissance wear, carols are sung, and living nativity scenes are enacted, all similar to celebrations in Italy or Spain, pointing to the country’s Catholic heritage. Children may also dress in colors signifying Europe, Asia, and Africa (the supposed homes of the Wise Men) and at the end of the parade route, church leaders often preach on the spiritual significance of the Epiphany. In 2011, by an act of Parliament, Epiphany was restored as an official non-working national public holiday in Poland for the first time since it was canceled under communism fifty years earlier.[124]
Poles though take small boxes containing chalk, a gold ring, incense and a piece of amber, in memory of the gifts of the Magi, to church to be blessed. Once at home, they inscribe «K+M+B+» and the year with the blessed chalk above every door in the house, according to tradition, to provide protection against illness and misfortune for those within. The letters, with a cross after each one, are said to stand either for the traditionally applied names of the Three Kings in Polish – Kacper, Melchior and Baltazar – or for a Latin inscription meaning «Christ bless this house.» They remain above the doors all year until they are inadvertently dusted off or replaced by new markings the next year.[125] On January 6, as in much of Europe, a Polish style Three Kings cake is served with a coin or almond baked inside. The one who gets it is king or queen for the day, signified by wearing the paper crown that decorates the cake. According to Polish tradition this person will be lucky in the coming year. Recipes vary by region. Some serve a French-type puff pastry cake with almond paste filling, others favor a sponge cake with almond cream filling, and yet others enjoy a light fruitcake.[126]
Epiphany in Poland also signals the beginning of zapusty or carnival time, when pączki (doughnuts) and chrust (Angel wings) are served.[127]
Portugal[edit]
In Portugal, Epiphany, January 6, is called dia dos Reis (Day of the Kings), during which the traditional Bolo Rei (King cake) is baked and eaten. Plays and pageants are popular on this day, and parents often hold parties for their children. Epiphany is also a time when the traditional Portuguese dances known as Mouriscadas and Paulitos are performed. The latter is an elaborate stick dance. The dancers, who are usually men but may be dressed as women, manipulate sticks or staves (in imitation swords) in two opposing lines.[128] It is a tradition too in Portugal for people to gather in small groups and to go from house to house to sing the Reis (meaning «Kings») which are traditional songs about the life of Jesus. The singers also bring greetings to the owners of the house. After singing for a while outside, they are invited in, and the owners of the house offer them sweets, liqueurs, and other Epiphany delicacies. These Reis usually begin on Epiphany eve and last until January 20.[129]
Portuguese village of Vale de Salgueiro encourages children, some as young as five, to smoke in a tradition that does not have clear roots.[130][131]
Puerto Rico[edit]
In Puerto Rico, Epiphany is an important festive holiday, and is commonly referred as Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, or Three Kings’ Day. It is traditional for children to fill a box with fresh grass or hay and put it underneath their bed, for the Wise Men’s horses. In Puerto Rico many artisans make commemorative historical figures of the Magi on horseback. The Three Wise Men of Puerto Rico, according to local tradition, arrive on horseback instead of camels as in other countries where the custom is also ingrained. The three kings will then take the grass to feed the horses and will leave gifts under the bed as a reward. These traditions are analogous to the customs of children leaving mince pies and sherry out for Father Christmas in Western Europe or leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus in the United States. On the day before the feast (January 5), the «Rosario de Reyes» or «Promesa de Reyes» is celebrated with songs (aguinaldos) promised to be sung to the Kings, usually before a little table with figures of the Nativity and the Kings or with the Kings alone and their camels. This celebration is accompanied with a chicken soup, snacks, and drinks.
Romania and Moldova[edit]
Star boys. Postage stamp depicting traditional Christmas & Epiphany star singing in Moldova.
In Romania and Moldova, Epiphany is called Boboteaza. In south-eastern Romania, following religious services, men participate in winter horse races. Before the race, the men line up with their horses before the priest, who will bless them by sprinkling them with green branches that have been dipped into Epiphany holy water. Sometimes people desire to have this blessing for themselves as well. Winning the Epiphany race is a great honor for both horse and rider, while the post-race celebrations, win or not, are highly festive. As in other Eastern Orthodox heritage countries, water rites play a special role on this day.[132] A unique piece of Romanian folk wisdom holds that if a girl slips on ice–or, better yet, falls into water–on Epiphany, she will surely marry before the year is out.[133]
In Transylvania (Erdély/Siebenbürgen), Lutheran and Reformed Christians of Hungarian and Saxon descent celebrate Epiphany with star singing and house blessing, as in Central Europe. The star singing custom had long ago spread throughout Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Here the star, called Steaua, today resembles a stained-glass lantern and features an Orthodox icon at its center, a tradition pointing to the blending of both East and West which characterizes the two nations on the river Prut.[134]
Russia[edit]
An ice hole is cut in the form of a cross in Russia to celebrate the Epiphany.
The Epiphany, celebrated in Russia on January 19, marks the baptism of Jesus in the Eastern Orthodox Church. As elsewhere in the Orthodox world, the Russian Church conducts the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters, also known as «the Great Sanctification of the Water» on that day (or the eve before).[135] The priest-led procession could simply proceed to the font,[135] but traditionally the worshipers would go to a nearby lake or river.
Historical records indicate that the blessing of the waters events took place at the courts of Moscow Czars since no later than 1525. According to historians, the blessing of the waters procession was the most magnificent of the annual Czar’s court’s ceremonies, comparable only to such special events as royal coronations and weddings. After a divine liturgy in the Kremlin’s Dormition Cathedral, the procession, led by the Czar and the Patriarch of Moscow would proceed to the frozen Moskva River. An ice-hole would have been made in the ice, called Iordan’ (in memory of the Jordan River), over which a small gazebo would have been erected and decorated with holy icons, one of which would depict the Baptism of Christ. The Patriarch would immerse his cross into the river’s water; and sprinkle the Czar, his boyars, and the banners of Czar’s army’s regiments with the holy water. A load of holy water would then be brought back to the Kremlin, to be used in blessing the Czar’s palace.[136] On a smaller scale, similar events would take place in the parishes throughout the nation.
Believing that on this day water becomes holy and is imbued with special powers, Russians cut holes called Iordan’ in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of the cross, to bathe in the freezing water.[137] This practice is said to be popularized comparatively recently; it was fairly uncommon in the czarist days, but has flourished since the 1990s.[138]
Participants in the ritual may dip themselves under the water three times, honoring the Holy Trinity, to symbolically wash away their sins from the past year, and to experience a sense of spiritual rebirth. Orthodox priests are on hand to bless the water, and rescuers are on hand to monitor the safety of the swimmers in the ice-cold water. Others limit their participation in the Epiphany rites to those conducted inside churches, where priests perform the Great Blessing of Waters, both on Epiphany Eve and Epiphany (Theophany) proper. The water is then distributed to attendees who may store it to use in times of illness, to bless themselves, family members, and their homes, or to drink. Some Russians think any water – even from the taps on the kitchen sink – poured or bottled on Epiphany becomes holy water, since all the water in the world is blessed this day. In the more mild climate of the southern city of Sochi meanwhile, where air and water temperatures both hover in the low to mid 10-degree Celsius range (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in January, thousands of people jump into the Black Sea at midnight each year on Epiphany and begin to swim in celebration of the feast.[139]
Slovenia[edit]
In Slovenia, especially in the Western part of the country, during the first day of the year and on Epiphany, children go from house to house because villagers will give them almonds, dried figs, nuts, cookies or other good things that they have at home.[140]
Spain[edit]
In Spain and some Latin American countries, Epiphany day is called El Día de Reyes[141] i.e., the day when a group of Kings or Magi, as related in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. In Spanish tradition on January 6, three of the Kings: Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Arabia, the Orient, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Before going to bed on the eve of January 6, children polish their shoes and leave them ready for the Kings’ presents to be put in them. The next morning presents will appear under their shoes, or if the children are deemed to have misbehaved during the year, coal (usually a lump of hard sugar candy dyed black, called Carbón Dulce).[142] Most towns in Spain arrange colorful parades representing the arrival of the Reyes Magos to town so children can see them on their camels or carriages before they go to bed. The oldest of these parades is held in Alcoy, Alicante (Valencian Community) which has hosted an annual parade since 1885.[143] Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are left for the Kings and their camels. In Spain, children typically receive presents on this day, rather than on Christmas, though this tradition has changed lately, and children now receive presents on both days. The Epiphany bread/cake is known as Roscón,[144] Tortell de Reis in Catalan, and in Mexico as Rosca de reyes.[145]
Sweden[edit]
Epiphany is a public holiday in Sweden, where it is known as «trettondedag jul» («Thirteenth Day Yule»), as January 6 is the thirteenth day after Christmas Eve, the main day on which Christmas is celebrated in Sweden. However, the end of the Christmas celebration is on January 13, St. Knut’s Day, more commonly known as «Twentieth Day Yule» (or «Twentieth Day Knut»).
United States[edit]
King cakes of the type locally called «French style» on display at the chain bakery/restaurant «La Madeline» branch in Carrollton, New Orleans. They come with cardboard «crowns» to be worn by whoever gets the slice with the token and becomes monarch of the event.
In Louisiana, Epiphany is the beginning of the Carnival season, during which it is customary to bake King Cakes, similar to the Rosca mentioned above. It is round in shape, filled with cinnamon, glazed white, and coated in traditional carnival color sanding sugar. The person who finds the doll (or bean) must provide the next king cake. The interval between Epiphany and Mardi Gras is sometimes known as «king cake season», and many may be consumed during this period. The Carnival season begins on King’s Day (Epiphany), and there are many traditions associated with that day in Louisiana and along the Catholic coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. King cakes are first sold then, Carnival krewes begin having their balls on that date, and the first New Orleans krewe parades in street cars that night.
In Colonial Virginia, Epiphany, or 12th Night, was an occasion of great merriment, and was considered especially appropriate as a date for balls and dancing, as well as for weddings. On 12th Night, Great Cake was prepared, consisting in two giant layers of fruitcake, coated and filled with royal icing. Custom dictated that the youngest child present cut and serve the cake and whoever found the bean or prize in the Twelfth Night cake was crowned «King of the Bean» similar to the European king cake custom.[citation needed]
In Erie, Pennsylvania, as part of an Epiphany party a king is hidden in a cake, and whichever child finds the king in the cake is crowned king for the day.[146]
Tarpon Springs, Florida, is known for elaborate religious ceremonies related to the Greek Orthodox Church, the most notable being the Epiphany celebration. The Metropolitan of Atlanta usually presides over the blessings, sometimes joined by the Archbishop of America. The blessings conclude with the ceremonial throwing of a wooden cross into the city’s Spring Bayou, and boys ages 16 to 18 diving in to retrieve it. Whoever recovers the cross is said to be blessed for a full year. Following the blessings, the celebration moves to the Sponge Docks where food and music are made part of the festivities.[147] Tarpon Springs has given itself the nickname Epiphany City.[148] The celebration attracts Greek Americans from across the country,[147] and the city’s population is known to triple in size for that day.[149]
In Manitou Springs, Colorado, Epiphany is marked by the Great Fruitcake Toss. Fruitcakes are thrown, participants dress as kings, fools, etc., and competitions are held for the farthest throw, the most creative projectile device, etc. As with customs in other countries, the fruitcake toss is a sort of festive symbolic leave-taking of the Christmas holidays until next year, but with humorous twist, since fruitcake is considered with a certain degree of derision in most of the United States, and is the source of many jokes.[150][151]
Wales[edit]
On January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany has long been an important celebration in Wales, known there as Ystwyll. In Glamorganshire, a huge loaf or cake was prepared, which was then divided up into three parts to represent Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Biblical Magi. A large company of neighbours was invited to be present at the dividing of the cake in which rings were concealed. Whoever discovered a ring in his piece of cake (or bread) was elected as King or Queen and presided over the day’s festivities. January 6 was the old-calendar Christmas Day and many of the festivities connected with it lasted well over a century after the new calendar was introduced in 1752.[citation needed]
Wales shares other Twelfth Night customs with its neighbor, England, including the Yule log, and the wassail to wish farmers a good harvest in the coming year, but here the Yule log’s ashes were saved then buried along with the seeds planted in the ensuing spring to ensure a good harvest, while the wassail bowl was taken to the house of newlyweds or to a family which had recently come to live in the district and songs sung outside the house door. Those inside the house would recite or sing special verses, to be answered by the revelers outside.
Another Welsh custom associated with Epiphany was the Hunting of the Wren. A group of young men would go out into the countryside to capture a wren (the smallest bird in the British Isles after the goldcrest/firecrest). The bird would then be placed in a small, decorated cage and carried around from house to house and shown in exchange for money or gifts of food and drink. (If a wren could not be found then a sparrow would have to undergo the ritual.)[152]
References[edit]
- ^ «The Byzantine Blessing of Water on the Vigil of the Epiphany».
- ^ a b «The Origins and Spirituality of the Epiphany». Catholicireland.net. February 14, 1969. Archived from the original on November 27, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Packer, George Nichols (1893). Our Calendar. Union and Advertiser Co. p. 110.
The length of Christmastide or season is twelve days, lasting from the 25th of December to Epiphany. Epiphany (Greek Epiphania, Theophania or Christophania), is a festival in commemoration of the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world as the Son of God, and referring to the appearance of the star which announced our Saviour’s birth to the Gentiles, and the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men of the East to the infant Jesus. This festival is held on the 6th of January invariably, consequently is not a moveable feast, though the length of Epiphany-tide depends upon the date of Easter.
- ^ «Epiphany and Epiphanytide». The Parish of St Clement and St James. The Church of England. December 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
The current pattern in the Anglican Church is to have an extended Epiphany season (called Epiphanytide). This is why Nativity scenes are sometimes kept in churches throughout January. Epiphanytide: Rather confusingly, however, the other two main ‘manifestations’ marked in Epiphanytide concern Jesus as an adult: his baptism in the River Jordan, when the Holy Spirit descends on him in the form of a dove (on the Sunday after Epiphany), and his first sign: the turning of water into wine at the marriage feast in Cana in Galilee. This latter event – the third ‘epiphany’ of the season – is only to be found in John’s gospel.
- ^ Heiligman, Deborah (2007). Celebrate Christmas. National Geographic. p. 27. ISBN 9781426301223.
At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a special day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday, which falls on January 6th, is celebrated as the day when the three wise men, also called the three kings, first saw baby Jesus and gave him gifts.
- ^ a b «Epiphany». Christian Advocate. United Methodist Publishing House. 7: 15. 1963.
…in Methodist usage the Epiphany Season includes all the Sundays between that date and Ash Wednesday, which for 1964 will be February 12, the beginning of Lent.
- ^ The Church Eclectic. Vol. XXV. The Young Churchman Co. 1898. p. 1089.
The Provincial Synod established in 1883 the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada, framed largely upon the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the American Church. No concerted action had been taken by the Church in Canada till the formation of this society but by the regular issuing of appeals from the Board of Management each year, at Ascensiontide for Domestic, and at Epiphanytide for Foreign Missions, a certain amount of interest in the great question of missions has been created.
- ^ a b «Evaluations of Nominations of Cultural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List: ICOMOS Report» (PDF). UNESCO Organization. August 2014. pp. 49–50. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. «Baptism Site «Bethany Beyond the Jordan» (Al-Maghtas)». UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ «The Calendar of the Orthodox Church». Goarch.org. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Holger Oertel (September 22, 2007). «The Julian Calendar». Ortelius.de. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ «Twelve days of Christmas». Full Homely Divinity. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
We prefer, like good Anglicans, to go with the logic of the liturgy and regard January 5th as the Twelfth Day of Christmas and the night that ends that day as Twelfth Night. That does make Twelfth Night the Eve of the Epiphany, which means that, liturgically, a new feast has already begun.
- ^ Funk, Tim (December 25, 2009). «Presbyterians bring Twelfth Night». The Charlotte Observer.
Christmas was a day to go to church – the simpler the service, the better, Todd says – and maybe have a quiet dinner with family. It was a slower time in the agricultural year, so there was an opportunity for some leisure. As long as you didn’t overdo it. But even Scots-Irish Presbyterians had to have a little fun sometimes. The occasion to let go was Twelfth Night on Jan. 5 or 6. For Christians, it marks the arrival in Bethlehem of the Magi, or Three Wise Men.
- ^ «The Bridge» Archived December 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Diocese of Southwark. Newsletter dated December 2011/January 2012.
- ^ Polon, Linda; Cantwell, Aileen (1983). The Whole Earth Holiday Book. Good Year Books. p. 97. ISBN 9780673165855.
- ^ A Study Guide for William Shakespeare’s «Twelfth Night» (2 ed.). Cengage Learning. 2016. p. 29. ISBN 9781410361349.
Twelfth Night saw people feasting and taking down Christmas decorations. The king cake is traditionally served in France and England on the Twelfth Night to commemorate the journey of the Magi to visit the Christ child.
- ^ Edworthy, Niall (2008). The Curious World of Christmas. Penguin Group. p. 83. ISBN 9780399534577.
The time-honoured epoch for taking down Christmas decorations from Church and house in Candlemas Day, February 2nd. Terribly withered they are by that time. Candlemas in old times represented the end of the Christmas holidays, which, when «fine old leisure» reigned, were far longer than they are now.
- ^ Roud, Steve (2008). The English Year. Penguin Books Limited. p. 690. ISBN 9780141919270.
As indicated in Herrick’s poem, quoted above, in the mid seventeenth century Christmas decorations were expected to stay in place until Candlemas (2 February), and this remained the norm until the nineteenth century.
- ^ Groome, Imogen (December 31, 2016). «When is Twelfth Night and what does it mean?». Metro. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
Twelfth Night 2017 is on Thursday 5 January, which is when we’re meant to put away our Christmas decorations or there’ll be bad luck in the year ahead. If you miss the date, some believe it’s necessary to keep decorations up until Candlemas on 2 February – or you’ll definitely have a rubbish year.
- ^ «Candlemas». BBC. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.
- ^ «Online Etymological Dictionary». Etymonline.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ a b «Lexicon». Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Cf. Schaff, Philip (April 28, 2014). «History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325. § 64. The Epiphany». Christian Classics Etheral Library. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Martindale 1909.
- ^ Schmemann, Alexander, «The Pre-Constantinian Origins of the Church Year»
- ^ Carrington, P., The Primitive Christian Calendar, 1952, –»In the secondary arrangement of Mark which is found in the non-B manuscripts, the Roman Year was followed. This arrangement would be the most natural way of explaining the origin of January 6 as a festival of the Baptism of Jesus.» (p. 71).
- ^ Carrington, «The ‘heretical’ festival of ‘Epiphany’ became a universal festival throughout the whole Christian world, commemorating both the Baptism and the Nativity of Jesus. It is hard to explain this as a world-wide imitation of the Basilides; it is quite easy to explain if the 48 (49)-lection arrangement of Mark was used as a Calendar fairly widely at one time.» (p. 54).
- ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, XXI, ii
- ^ Epiphanius, Panarion, li, 27, in Migne, Patrologia Graecae (P.G.), XLI, 936 (where it is called by its Latin name: Adversus Haereses)
- ^ Epiphanius, chapters xxviii and xxix P.G., XLI, 940 sq..
- ^ Nicholas Pokhilko, «History of Epiphany»: «The birth of Christ, the story of the Magi, Christ’s baptism, His divine manifestation, miracle at Cana, and the feeding of the crowds formed the festival of Epiphany on January 6 as indicated in earlier Alexandrian and Syrian traditions.»
- ^ Keener, Matthew, 1997, (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA), ISBN 0-8308-1801-4, page 65.
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- ^ Liddell & Scott
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- ^ Migne 1858, p. 333, Oratio XXXIX & XL.
- ^ Nazianzus & col. 349.
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- ^ Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 44
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- ^ «Today the Church has been joined to her heavenly bridegroom, since Christ has purified her of her sins in the river Jordan: the Magi hasten to the royal wedding and offer gifts: the wedding guests rejoice since Christ has changed water into wine, alleluia» (Benedictus antiphon, Liturgy of the Hours, Roman Rite). «Three wonders mark this day we celebrate: today the star led the Magi to the manger; today water was changed into wine at the marriage feast; today Christ desired to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation, alleluia» (Magnificat antiphon at Second Vespers, Liturgy of the Hours, Roman Rite).
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Sources[edit]
- Epiphanius, Panarion, li, 27, in Migne, Patrologia Graecae (P.G.), XLI, 936 (where it is called by its Latin name: Adversus Haereses)
- Martindale, Cyril (1909). «Epiphany» . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Migne, Jacques-Paul (1858). Patrologiae cursus completus, series graeca. Vol. 2.
Further reading[edit]
- Baxter, Roger (1823). «Christ to be Adored with Offerings» . Meditations For Every Day In The Year. New York: Benziger Brothers.
- Massillon, Jean-Baptiste (1879). «Sermon XXVII: For the day of the Epiphany» . Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon. Thomas Tegg and Son.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epiphany.
Look up Epiphany in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- The Epiphany Season at the Christian Resource Institute
- Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s The Church’s Year: «On the vigil and feast of the Epiphany»
Предложения с «крещение Господне»
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Крещение Господне отмечается как особый праздник в римском обряде, хотя первоначально оно было одним из трех евангельских событий, отмеченных праздником Богоявления. |
The Baptism of the Lord is observed as a distinct feast in the Roman rite, although it was originally one of three Gospel events marked by the feast of the Epiphany . |
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Крещение Господне 6 января знаменует окончание рождественского сезона. |
Epiphany on January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season. |
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С тех пор тысячи христианских паломников со всего мира ежегодно отмечают Крещение Господне в Вифании за Иорданом. |
Since then, thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world annually have marked Epiphany at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. |
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Тысячи людей стекаются на место 6 января, чтобы отметить Крещение Господне . |
Thousands flock to the site on January 6 to mark Epiphany . |
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Я предвкушаю свое завтрашнее крещение Как меня обнимет длань Господа и все такое. |
I’m really looking forward to my baptism tomorrow and being held in God’s palm and everything. |
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Предаете ли вы обрядом крещения судьбу этого младенца в руки господа , который даровал ему жизнь? |
Do you now dedicate this child by the rite of baptism unto the Lord, who brought it? |
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не дай, Господи , приобщенным через крещение к твоей Церкви, отвернуться от Тебя, но через деяния свои даруй им свет, счастье и мир. |
… and do not let eternal King, who in baptism was incorporated into your church, look away from you but by your glorious merits grant them the place of light, happiness and peace, |
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Господи, уже всё позади, я крещён… |
My God… it is done. I got baptized. |
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Они были обучены символу веры и молитве Господней , изучены в нем и изгнаны до крещения . |
They were taught the creed and the Lord’s Prayer, examined therein, and exorcized prior to baptism. |
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В XVI веке Мартин Лютер сохранил крещение как таинство, но швейцарский реформатор Халдрих Цвингли считал крещение и Вечерю Господню символическими. |
In the sixteenth century, Martin Luther retained baptism as a sacrament, but Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli considered baptism and the Lord’s supper to be symbolic. |
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Вчера я смыла с себя весь мой позор в водах крещения и вкусила святого тела господня ; теперь я одна из его дарохранительниц. |
Yesterday I washed away every stain in the waters of baptism, and received the Sacred Body of my Redeemer; I am become one of His tabernacles. |
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Первоначально Крещение Христово праздновалось в День Крещения Господня , который знаменует пришествие волхвов, Крещение Христа и венчание в Кане. |
Originally the baptism of Christ was celebrated on Epiphany , which commemorates the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and the wedding at Cana. |
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Празднества продолжаются до конца года, а затем и до Крещения Господня . |
Festivities extend to the end of the year and then to the Epiphany . |
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В Трезубцевом календаре почти четыре столетия не было праздника Крещения Господня . |
The Tridentine Calendar had no feast of the Baptism of the Lord for almost four centuries. |
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Занятия продолжаются после Крещения Господня с весенним семестром, который заканчивается в начале июня. |
The classes continue after the Epiphany with the spring semester which finishes at the beginning of June. |
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В Восточной Европе и России зимнее купание является частью празднования Крещения Господня . |
In Eastern Europe and Russia, winter swimming is part of the celebration of the Epiphany . |
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Только в Москве 30 тысяч верующих купались в ледяных прорубях в 37 купелях во время Крещения Господня в 2010 году. |
In Moscow alone, 30,000 believers swam in ice holes in 37 fonts during the Epiphany of 2010. |
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Традиционные двенадцать дней Рождества начинаются с Сочельника вечером 24 декабря и продолжаются до праздника Крещения Господня . |
The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas begin with Christmas Eve on the evening of December 24 and continue until the feast of Epiphany . |
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Если младенцы могут получить благословение возложения рук Господом,они также могут получить благодать крещения и возрождения. |
If infants can receive the blessings of laying of hands by the Lord, they can also receive baptismal grace of regeneration. |
Праздники в Великобритании созданы для воссоединения семьи. Все родственники собираются на Рождество или Пасху. Из-за большой популярности праздников в английском языке очень много подобной лексики. Так, для каждого рождественского растения есть свое обозначение. Чтение английских праздников на английском языке позволит лучше изучить эту лексику.
Английские праздники на английском языке
Существует большое количество праздников, которые существуют в английских странах зимой:
- New year;
- Christmas;
- Boxing Day;
- Valentine’s day.
Три из этих праздников можно отнести и к российским, только сценарий их празднования немного отличается.
Менее крупные праздники отмечаются весной и летом:
- Up-Helly-Aa;
- Carnival;
- Mother’s Day;
- Patrick’sDay;
- Easter;
- May Day;
- Queen’s Birthday;
- The Notting Hill Carnival.
Особой популярностью в мире пользуются осенние праздники:
- Halloween;
- Bonfire Night.
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New Year — Новый год
Новогодние гуляния — любимые зимние праздники во многих странах.
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| New Year is a holiday on the night of December 31 to January 1. | Новый год – это праздник в ночь с 31 декабря на 1 января. |
| It is celebrated exactly at midnight. | Он отмечается ровно в полночь. |
| People drink champagne and make wishes. | Люди пьют шампанское и загадывают желания. |
| If you write down your desire on paper, burn it, pour the ashes into champagne and drink under the clock, then the wish will come true. | Если записать свое желание на бумаге, сжечь, высыпать пепел в шампанское и выпить под бой часов, то желание сбудется. |
| At this night, all give each other gifts. | В эту ночь принято дарить друг другу подарки. |
| In Orthodox countries, children receive gifts from Santa Claus at this night. | В православных странах дети получают подарки от Санта Клауса именно в эту ночь. |
| For the New Year people decorate the Christmas tree and prepare a festive meal. | К Новому году украшают елку и готовят праздничную еду. |
Up-Helly-Aa — Отправка в Вальхаллу
Отправка в Вальхаллу — национальный праздник в Шотландии.
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Traditional Scottish festival – Up-Helly-Aa. | Традиционный шотландский праздник – Up-Helly-Aa или Отправка в Вальхаллу. |
| On this day there is a parade with torches. | В этот день устраивают парад с факелами. |
| At the end of the holiday people burn the doll. | В конце праздника сжигают куклу. |
| It happens on the last Friday of February or the second Friday of March. | Он проводится в последнюю пятницу февраля или вторую пятницу марта. |
Valentine’s Day — День святого Валентина
Небольшой рассказ о Дне святого Валентина:
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Valentine’s Day is a celebration of all lovers. | День святого Валентина – это праздник всех влюбленных. |
| On this day, lovers give each other gifts. | В этот день влюбленные дарят друг другу подарки. |
| According to legends, Valentine married couples at a time when it was forbidden. | По легендам Валентин женил пары в то время, как это было запрещено. |
| Valentine was caught and sent to execution. | Валентина поймали и отправили на казнь. |
| But he fell in love with the girl who sent his message. | Но он сам полюбил девушку, которой отправил свое послание. |
| He signed it «From your Valentine». | Он подписал его «От твоего Валентина». |
| The holiday is celebrated on February 14th. | Праздник отмечают 14 февраля. |
| On this day, all give «valentines» — cards in the shape of a heart. | В этот день принято дарить «валентинки» — открытки в форме сердца. |
Carnival – Масленица
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Catholic Carnival is different from the Orthodox. | Католическая масленица отличается от православной. |
| This holiday is the last meat day before the lent. | Этот праздник – последний мясной день перед постом. |
| Its celebration begins on «fat Thursday», and ends on «fat Tuesday». | Его празднование начинается в «жирный четверг», а заканчивается в «жирный вторник». |
| At this time there are many parades and carnivals in the cities . | В это время в городах есть много парадов, карнавалов. |
| In England, the holiday is celebrated only on Tuesday. | В самой Англии праздник отмечается только во вторник. |
| The most important thing on this day is the race of women with pans and pancakes. | Самое главное в этот день – забег женщин со сковородками и блинами. |
| Pancakes are baked traditionally on this holiday. | Традиционно на этот праздник пекут блины. |
Mother’s Day — День матери
Описание Дня матери:
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников на русский |
| People began to celebrate Mother’s Day in America. | День Матери люди начали отмечать в Америке. |
| Ann Jarvis introduced it. | Его ввела Энн Джарвис. |
| At the beginning of the 20th century, the first mention of the holiday was in the Philadelphia church. | В начале 20 века первое упоминание праздника произошло в Филадельфийской церкви. |
| The Sunday service was held in mother’s honor of one of the church members. | Воскресная служба была проведена в честь матери одного из членов церкви. |
| Other churches have taken up this tradition. | Другие церкви подхватили эту традицию. |
| By 1915, all of America began to celebrate Mother’s Day. | К 1915 году вся Америка стала отмечать День Матери. |
| Traditionally on this day people wear a red flower, if the mother is alive and white, if not. | Традиционно в этот день носят красный цветок, если мама жива и белый, если нет. |
| The holiday is celebrated in all countries of the world. | Праздник отмечается во всех странах мира. |
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Christmas – Рождество
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. | Рождество – это день рождения Иисуса Христа. |
| Traditionally, the Catholics celebrate this holiday on December the 25th. | Традиционно этот праздник отмечается 25 декабря у католиков. |
| There are many legends associated with Christmas. | С Рождеством связано много легенд. |
| If you kissed your lover under the mistletoe, your will love each other until the end. | Если в этот день поцеловать любимого человека под Омелой, то ваша любовь будет вечной. |
| That is why on Christmas night people make dates under the mistletoe. | Именно поэтому в рождественскую ночь назначают свидания под Омелой. |
| On the eve of the holiday, people decorate the whole city. | В канун праздника люди украшают весь город. |
| Streetlights and shop windows glow from the Christmas lights. | Уличные фонари и витрины магазинов светятся от гирлянд. |
| All people buy a Christmas tree. | Все люди покупают рождественскую елку. |
| They hang baubles and ornaments on it. | Они вешают на нее шарики и дождик. |
| People decorate the door with holly wreaths. | Люди украшают двери венками из остролиста. |
| The holly ornament with bells is a traditional Christmas decoration. | Украшение из остролиста с колокольчиками является традиционным рождественским украшением. |
| A popular drink during this holiday is the eggnog. | Популярный напиток во время этого праздника – гоголь-моголь. |
| The main character of Christmas is Santa Claus. | Главный герой Рождества – Санта Клаус. |
| He prepares presents for the children with the elves and delivers gifts on his sleigh with deer. | Он готовит подарки для детей вместе с эльфами и развозит их на своих санях с оленями. |
| Santa has 9 deer, including Rudolph with a red glowing nose. | У Санты есть 9 оленей, включая Рудольфа с красным светящимся носом. |
| Santa leaves the children gifts under the Christmas tree and in stocking. | Санта оставляет детям подарки под елкой и в рождественских носках. |
Boxing Day — День подарков
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Boxing Day is celebrated on December the 26th. | День подарков отмечается 26 декабря. |
| Literally, the holiday is translated as the day of the boxes, not gifts. | Дословно праздник переводится, как день коробок, а не подарков. |
| This is due to the packaging of gifts in boxes. | Это связано с упаковкой подарков в коробки. |
| This day is the next after Christmas. | Этот день следующий после Рождества. |
| The children go to bed at night on December the 25th, and Santa gives them presents. | Дети ложатся спать ночью 25 декабря, а Санта доставляет им подарки. |
| Therefore, on December the 26th, all children open presents. | Поэтому 26 декабря все дети открывают подарки. |
| Because of this, this day is a separate holiday. | Из-за этого этот день считается отдельным праздником. |
St. Patrick’s Day — День Святого Патрика
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| St. Patrick’s Day is the celebration of the baptism of Ireland. | День Святого Патрика – празднование крещения Ирландии. |
| People celebrate it on March the 17th. | Он празднуется 17 марта. |
| The most interesting thing is that now this holiday is celebrated not only outside of Ireland, but also by atheists. | Самое интересное, что сейчас этот праздник отмечают не только за пределами Ирландии, но и атеисты. |
| Saint Patrick was not originally a Christian, or even Patrick. | Святой Патрик изначально не был христианином и даже не Патриком. |
| He was born in England, but the slavers stole him and sold to an Irishman. | Он родился в Англии, но его выкрали работорговцы и продали ирландцу. |
| He stayed there for a long time. | Он пробыл там долгое время. |
| According to legend, one day God came to him in a dream and said that it was time to run away. | По легенде однажды ему пришел во сне Бог и сказал, что пора бежать. |
| That night he ran away back to England. | В ту же ночь он сбежал обратно в Англию. |
| Here he changed his name to Patrick at baptism. | Здесь же он поменял имя на Патрик при крещении. |
| Patrick spent 12 years in religious studies. | Патрик провел за религиозным обучением 12 лет. |
| After that, he decided to bring Christianity to Ireland. | После этого он решил принести христианство в Ирландию. |
| According to legend, when Patrick came to the house of his owner, owner burned himself along with the house. | По легендам, когда Патрик пришел в дом бывшего хозяина, тот сжег себя вместе с домом. |
| So he could not stand that his slave became smarter than him. | Так он не смог выдержать, что его бывший раб стал умнее его. |
| According to historical data, St. Patrick created more than 600 Catholic churches and schools. | По историческим данным Святой Патрик основал более 600 католических церквей и школ. |
| The traditional Patrick’s colors do not belong to him. | Традиционные цвета, в каких изображают Патрика, ему не принадлежат. |
| It happened because of the flag of Ireland — red and green. | Это было придумано из-за флага Ирландии – рыжий и зеленый. |
Easter – Пасха
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Catholic and Orthodox Easter are celebrated on different days. | Католическая и православная Пасха празднуется в разные дни. |
| This is due to the difference in calendars. | Это связано с разницей календарей. |
| Every year it is a new date of celebration. | Каждый год выпадает новая дата празднования. |
| A similar tradition — people paint eggs. | Схожая традиция – люди красят яйца. |
| But Catholics have the Easter Bunny. | Но у католиков существует Пасхальный кролик. |
| This is an analogue of Santa Claus, who gives not gifts, but chocolate eggs. | Это аналог Санта Клауса, который дарит не подарки, а шоколадные яйца. |
| Children believe Rabbit is hiding chocolate eggs in its nest. | Дети верят, что Кролик прячет шоколадные яйца в своем гнезде. |
| On Easter Day, he gives them to those who behaved well. | В день Пасхи он раздает их тем, кто вел себя хорошо. |
May Day — День весны
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Every year, the Spring Festival is celebrated on a different day in May. | Каждый год Праздник весны отмечают в разный день мая. |
| On this day, people decorate their houses and the city with flowers. | В этот день люди украшают свои дома и город цветами. |
| There are many parades on the streets. | На улицах много парадов. |
| At fairs you can buy branches of flowering trees. | На ярмарках продают ветви цветущих деревьев. |
| Traditionally, girls wash their faces with dew on this day in order to prolong their youth. | Традиционно девушки умываются в этот день росой, чтобы продлить молодость. |
| According to the legend, at one of these holidays Robin Hood was caught. | По легенде на одном таком празднике поймали Робина Гуда. |
Queen’s Birthday — День рождения королевы
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| On this day people celebrate the Birthday of the Queen. | В этот день люди отмечают день рождения Королевы. |
| It does not always agree with her real birthday. | Он не всегда совпадает с ее настоящим праздником. |
| In each country of the United Kingdom people celebrate in different day. | В каждой стране Соединенного Королевства он празднуется в разный день. |
| In the UK it is celebrated in June on the first, second or third Saturday depending on the weather. | В Великобритании его празднуют в июне в первую, вторую или третью субботу в зависимости от погоды. |
| In Australia this holiday people celebrate on the second Monday of June. | В Австралии этот праздник люди отмечают во второй понедельник июня. |
| In Canada it is celebrated on the third Monday of May. | В Канаде его принято отмечать в третий понедельник мая. |
| And in New Zealand it is celebrated on the first Monday of June. | А в Новой Зеландии – первый понедельник июня. |
The Notting Hill Carnival — Ноттинг Хилл Карнавал
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Notting Hill is the annual carnival in August, which is celebrated for 2 days. | Ноттинг Хилл – это ежегодный карнавал в августе, который отмечается 2 дня. |
| Traditionally, representatives of the British African community participate in the carnival. | Традиционно в карнавале участвуют представители британской африканской общины. |
| Carnival reached over 2 million viewers. | Карнавал достигал более 2 миллионов зрителей. |
Halloween –Хэллоуин
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Halloween is a holiday in the night from the 31th of October to the 1th of November. | Хэллоуин – это праздник в ночь с 31 октября на 1 ноября. |
| On this day all people dress up in scary monsters, go to houses and scare the neighbors. | В этот день все наряжаются в страшных монстров, ходят по домам и пугают соседей. |
| Dressed up people say «trick or treat». | Наряженные люди говорят «конфета или жизнь». |
| On this day, people give sweets to all who will come to you in a suit. | В этот день принято одаривать конфетами всех, кто придет к вам в костюме. |
| Another tradition of the holiday is to carve pumpkins. | Еще одна традиция праздника – вырезать тыквы. |
| The pumpkin gives a scary face and stick a candle inside. | Тыкве придают страшное лицо, а внутрь вставляют свечку. |
| It is a tribute to the legend of Jack. | Это дань легенде о Джеке. |
| There once lived a greedy and evil Jack. | Когда-то жил жадный и злой Джек. |
| He stole a lot. | Он много воровал. |
| Once he didn’t have enough money to pay for dinner. | Однажды ему не хватало денег, чтобы заплатить за ужин. |
| He borrowed the money from devil. | Денег ему одолжил черт. |
| Jack promised to pay off in a year. | Джек пообещал рассчитаться через год. |
| A year later, Jack was walking home and stole two pumpkins. | Прошел год, Джек шел домой и украл две тыквы. |
| When he cut them to make pumpkin pie, the devil came. | Когда он вырезал их, чтобы сделать тыквенный пирог, пришел черт. |
| Devil wanted not the money, but Jack’s life. | Черт захотел не денег, а жизнь Джека. |
| He threw a burning coal at Jack, but it got into the pumpkin. | Он кинул горящий уголь в Джека, но тот попал в тыкву. |
| Since then Jack knew no rest and walked over the world, illuminating the path of the flaming pumpkin. | С тех пор Джек не знал покоя и блуждал по миру, освещая путь горящей тыквой. |
Bonfire Night — Ночь костров
| Английские праздники | Перевод английских праздников |
| Bonfire night is a celebration of stopping the Parliament’s explosion by Guy Fawkes. | Ночь костров – это праздник предотвращения взрыва Парламента Гаем Фоксом. |
| Guy Fawkes was a Catholic, and the then ruling king James I – a Protestant. | Гай Фокс был католиком, а правящий тогда король Яков I – протестантом. |
| James I took reforms against Catholics. | Яков I принимал реформы против католиков. |
| Guy Fawkes decided to make a revolution by blowing up the house of Parliament. | Гай Фокс решил сделать переворот, взорвав здание Парламента. |
| On the night of November the 5th there has to be all the ruling people including James I in the building. | В ночь на 5 ноября в здании должны были находиться все правящие люди, включая Якова I. |
| Guy Fawkes rented a room under the Parliament and filled it with dynamite. | Гай Фокс арендовал помещение под Парламентом и наполнил его динамитом. |
| He had followers who helped with the plan. | У него были последователи, которые помогали воплотить план. |
| On November the 5th Guy Fawkes had to blow the dynamite up in the room and escape. | 5 ноября Гай Фокс должен был поджечь динамит в помещении и бежать. |
| But William Parker warned the king about the plot. | Но Уильям Паркер предупредил короля о заговоре. |
| Guy Fawkes was stopped when he was ready to blow the dynamite up. | Гая Фокса остановили тогда, когда он был готов поджечь динамит. |
| He was sent to the Tower and later executed. | Его отправили в Тауэр и позже казнили. |
| Since then, every November the 5th people celebrate the day when Guy Fawkes couldn’t blow the Parliament up. | С тех пор каждое 5 ноября отмечают день, когда не смогли взорвать Парламент. |
| On this day there are large fireworks and people burn a Guy Fawkes’ doll. | В этот день запускают большие фейерверки и сжигают куклу Гая Фокса. |
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Слова по теме праздники
| Слова по теме английские праздники | Перевод английских слов |
| Birthday | День рождения |
| Party | Вечеринка |
| Celebrate | Праздновать |
| Festival | Фестиваль |
| Holiday | Праздник, выходной |
| Present, gift | Подарок |
| Give a present | Подарить подарок |
| Invite friends | Пригласить друзей |
| Have fun | Веселиться |
| Wish list | Список желаний (для подарков) |
Русские праздники на английском языке с переводом
| Официальные праздники России на английском (Holidays in Russia) | Перевод с английского |
| January the 1th – New Year’s celebration | 1 января – празднование Нового года |
| January the 7th – Christmas celebration | 7 января – празднование Рождества |
| February 23 – Defender of the Fatherland Day | 23 февраля – День защитника отечества |
| March 8 – World Women’s Day | 8 марта – Всемирный день женщин |
| March 1-2 – Labor Day | 1-2 марта – День труда |
| May 9 – Victory Day | 9 мая – День Победы |
| June 12 – Independence Day | 12 июня – День независимости |
| December 12 – Constitution Day | 12 декабря – День Конституции |
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Рассказ об английских праздниках с переводом
Сочинение на тему праздников:
| Английские праздники | Перевод с английского |
| In the UK there are a large number of holidays. | В Великобритании есть большое количество праздников. |
| They are created to connect families together. | Они созданы, чтобы соединять семьи. |
| On Christmas day on 25th of December, the relatives get together for lunch. | На Рождество 25 декабря, родственники собираются на обед. |
| On February the 14th Valentine’s Day lovers make a romantic dinner. | 14 февраля на день Валентина влюбленные устраивают романтический ужин. |
| At Mother’s Day children visit their parents. | На День матери дети навещают своих родителей. |
| In European countries all give gifts with price tags. | В европейских странах все дарят подарки с ценниками. |
| People show this way that they bought a new thing. | Люди показывают таким образом, что они купили новую вещь. |
| But staring at the price tag while you getting the gift is rude! | Но разглядывать ценник, пока вы получаете подарок – грубо! |
| On every holiday, the government makes magnificent parades and fireworks. | На каждый праздники правительство делает великолепные парады и фейерверки. |
| Fairs with the sale of small symbolic gifts are also popular. | Также популярны ярмарки с продажей небольших символических подарки. |
Заключение
Для лучшего запоминания праздничной лексики, слушайте тематические песни. Рождественские песни есть как традиционные, так и те, которые выпускают у современных исполнителей. Лексику Хэллоуина легче запомнить через фильмы и сериалы. Изучение праздников на английском позволит ощутить себя в атмосфере культуры.
крещение господне
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Крещение Господне
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > Крещение Господне
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Крещение Господне
Epiphany, the Twelfth-day, the Twelfthtide, лат. Baptisma Domini
Святое Богоявление, Крещение Господа Бога и Спаса нашего Иисуса Христа (двунадесятый праздник Русской правосл. церкви, отмечаемый 6/19 января; богоявление) — the Theophany, (the) Holy Manifestation of the Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour Christ, the Baptism of Christ, the Baptism of Our Lord
Русско-английский словарь религиозной лексики > Крещение Господне
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Крещение Господне
the Epiphany, the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan, Theophany
Русско-английский глоссарий христианской лексики > Крещение Господне
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Крещение Господне
Русско-английский синонимический словарь > Крещение Господне
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Крещение Господне (церковный праздник в память о крещении Христа в реке Иордан и сошествии на него Святого Духа ; отмечается восточными христианами)
General subject:epiphany
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > Крещение Господне (церковный праздник в память о крещении Христа в реке Иордан и сошествии на него Святого Духа ; отмечается восточными христианами)
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Крещение Христово
Русско-английский словарь религиозной лексики > Крещение Христово
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двунадесятые праздники
the Twelve Major Festivals, the Twelve Great Feasts, the Twelve Festivals-Days of the Church
Русско-английский словарь религиозной лексики > двунадесятые праздники
См. также в других словарях:
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Крещение Господне — «Крещение Господне» (икона, XVI век) Тип религиозный праздник … Википедия
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крещение господне — богоявление Словарь русских синонимов. крещение господне сущ., кол во синонимов: 2 • богоявление (4) • … Словарь синонимов
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Крещение Господне — (Богоявление) один из двунадесятых православных церковных праздников. Совершение крещения связывается с принятием верующего в лоно церкви. По её учению, это означает, что человек умирает для жизни плотской, греховной и возрождается от Духа… … Исторический словарь
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КРЕЩЕНИЕ ГОСПОДНЕ — (Богоявление), один из христианских праздников. Установлен в честь крещения Иисуса Христа пророком Иоанном Крестителем в реке Иордан. Отмечается верующими 6 (19) января … Современная энциклопедия
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КРЕЩЕНИЕ Господне — (Богоявление) один из двунадесятых православных церковных праздников. Согласно христианскому вероучению, установлен в память крещения Христа пророком Иоанном Крестителем в р. Иордан. Отмечается верующими 6(19) января церемонией освящения воды… … Большой Энциклопедический словарь
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Крещение Господне — (Богоявление), один из христианских праздников. Установлен в честь крещения Иисуса Христа пророком Иоанном Крестителем в реке Иордан. Отмечается верующими 6 (19) января. … Иллюстрированный энциклопедический словарь
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КРЕЩЕНИЕ ГОСПОДНЕ — Христианский праздник, в котором прославляется обряд крещения Иисуса Христа на реке Иордане. Один из Двунадесятых праздников*. Согласно Евангелию, Иисус Христос долго оставался в пустыне вдали от мира. В это время явился проповедник новой веры… … Лингвострановедческий словарь
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Крещение Господне, или Богоявление у протестантов — 19 января протестанты отмечают праздник Крещения Господня, который также называют Богоявлением. Праздник Богоявления, наравне с праздником Пасхи, является древнейшим христианским праздником и посвящен Крещению Иисуса Христа Иоанном Крестителем в… … Энциклопедия ньюсмейкеров
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КРЕЩЕНИЕ ГОСПОДНЕ — (Богоявление), христианский праздник в память того дня, когда тридцатилетний Иисус Христос явился на берега Иордана, где его крестил Иоанн Предтеча. В этот день было явление Пресвятой Троицы и, в особенности, явление Божества Спасителя,… … Русская история
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Крещение Господне — двунадесятый праздник, отмечается 6/19 января. В этот день вспоминается, как Иоанн Предтеча крестил Иисуса Христа в реке Иордан. В момент, когда совершилось крещение, над головой Христа появился Святой Дух в виде голубя и с небес донесся голос:… … Православный энциклопедический словарь
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Крещение Господне — (Мат.3:13 ,17, Мар.1:9 ,11, Лук.3:21 ,22). Когда крестился народ от Иоанна, в то время приходит из Назарета на Иордан к Иоанну Иисус и просит у него крещение. Иоанн, еще из детства зная необыкновенно святую жизнь Его, удерживал Его и говорил: мне … Библия. Ветхий и Новый заветы. Синодальный перевод. Библейская энциклопедия арх. Никифора.
Перевод «Крещение Господне» на английский
Epiphany — это перевод «Крещение Господне» на английский.
Пример переведенного предложения: Иконография: Богоявление (Крещение Господне) ↔ Iconography: Baptism of Our Lord
Склонение
Основа
Совпадение слов
Церковь Крещения Господня и школа, Корпус морских скаутов и Эрставикский бассейн.
The Church of the Epiphany and the school, the Sea Scouts’ hut and the beach at Erstaviken.
Иисус среди учителей в Иерусалимском храме Крещение Господне Призвание Петра Брак в Кане Галилейской (повреждена во время Второй мировой войны) Преображение Господне Воскрешение Лазаря Вход Господень в Иерусалим Народ приветствует Иисуса в Иерусалиме (две последние сцены являются одним событием, и занимают больше двух рамок) Нижний ярус изображает Страсти Христовы.
Jesus among the Doctors of the Temple of Jerusalem The Baptism of Jesus The Calling of Peter The Wedding at Cana of Galilee (damaged in WWII) The Transfiguration The Resurrection of Lazarus Jesus enters Jerusalem The people welcome Jesus to Jerusalem (the final two scenes are a single event spread over two frames) The lower register, showing the Passion of Christ, continues beneath the Entry into Jerusalem, and is read from right to left in eight scenes over four bays.
Крещение и Вечеря Господня преподаются только возрожденным людям.
Al-Sout is performed only at night gatherings of men.
Храмовый брак, как и крещение, есть заповедь Господня.
Just as baptism is a commandment of the Lord, so is temple marriage.
Мы веруем, что водное крещение и Вечеря Господня (хлебопреломление) — заповеди, которые должна соблюдать церковь.
We believe, that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion) are commandments which the church should observe.
Есть два таинства, установленные нашим Господом Христом в Евангелии, — крещение и вечеря Господня.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.
Но они не имеют такой же природы таинства, как крещение и вечеря Господня, поскольку не содержат видимых знамений и церемоний, установленных Богом.
Neither are regarded as magic, but as signs of Allah at the hands of those close to him that occur by his will and his alone.
Одно из таинств дома Господнего – это крещение за умерших.
One of the ordinances of the house of the Lord is baptism for the dead.
Тоя же зимы генваря 9, на Крещение Господне, рать великого князя прииде в землю черемисскую, и много зла учиниша земле той; людей изсекоша, а иных в плен поведоша, а иных изожгоша; а кони их и всякую животину, чего нельзя с собою имати, то все изсекоша; а что было живота их, то все взяша, и повоеваша всю землю ту, а досталь пожгоша, а до Казани за един день не доходили и, возвратившеся, приидоша к великому князю вси поздорову.»
He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it.»
Иисус Сам исполнял таинство крещения; Он учредил причастие Господней вечери, предписал порядок его соблюдения и совершал другие обряды, которые Он считал необходимыми для спасения человека.
Jesus himself attended to the ordinance of baptism; he instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, and ordained its observance; and performed other rites which he thought essential to man’s salvation.
Страсти Христовы представлены на западной стене: Вход Господень в Иерусалим, за которым следует Преображение Господне, изображаемое как правило после Крещения.
The passion is introduced on the western wall by the Entry into Jerusalem, followed by the Transfiguration, which is normally depicted after the Baptism.
«Мы признаем, что процесс основания Церкви Господней выходит далеко за рамки просто крещения людей.
“We recognize that the process of establishing the Lord’s church encompasses much more than baptizing people.
26 И было так, что дело Господнее процветало, что приводило к крещению и присоединению к Церкви Божьей многие души, да, и даже десятки тысяч.
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
Оукс свидетельствовал, что существует определенное духовное очищение или исцеление, связанное с причастием: «Причастие Вечери Господней – это возобновление завета и благословений крещения.
Oaks has testified that there is a spiritual cleansing or healing associated with the sacrament: “The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is a renewal of the covenants and blessings of baptism.
Истинное покаяние вдохновляет нас на то, чтобы наше послушание стало нашим обязательством – заветом, начинающимся с крещения и возобновляемым каждую неделю при принятии Господней вечери, причастия.
True repentance inspires us to make our obedience a commitment—a covenant, beginning with baptism and renewed each week at the Lord’s Supper, the sacrament.
Первый опыт крещения за умерших научил Святых тому, как важно вести документацию в Господней Церкви.
The Saints’ early experiences with baptism for the dead taught them the importance of record keeping in the Lord’s Church.
В праздник Крещения Господня на Дворцовом пруду, расположенном перед парком «Останкино», организована специальная крещенская купель.
A special site for Epiphany bathing was constructed at Palace Pond (Dvortsoviy Prud), located in front of Ostankino Park.
19 января все православные и греко-католики отметят Крещение Господне (Водохреща)
January 19 all Orthodox and Greek Catholics celebrate Epiphany (Vodohrescha)
Крещение Господне входит в число главных двенадцати христианских праздников.
The baptism of the Lord is one of the main twelve Christian holidays.
Иконография: Богоявление (Крещение Господне)
Iconography: Baptism of Our Lord
Иконы России: Богоявление (Крещение Господне)
Russian Icons: Baptism of Our Lord
Крещение Господне входит в число главных двенадцати христианских праздников…
The baptism of the Lord is one of the main twelve Christian holidays…
Богоявление (Крещение Господне) 22
Baptism of Our Lord 22
6. Крещение Господне
6. Baptism of Our Lord