Epiphany (holiday)
Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day or Theophany, is a Christian holiday celebrated twelve days after Christmas, typically observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics and on January 19 by Eastern Orthodox Christians. It commemorates the arrival of the three wise men, or magi, in Bethlehem, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus, symbolizing his kingship, divinity, and mortality. The term "Epiphany" originates from the Greek word meaning "to show" or "to reveal," reflecting the event's significance in acknowledging the divine nature of Jesus.
In different cultures, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries, Epiphany is celebrated with various traditions, including the preparation of special foods like Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread shaped like a crown. Children often take part in festivities by leaving boxes of hay under their beds for the magi's camels, expecting gifts in return. In the United States, celebrations include parades and music, notably in places like New York City’s El Museo del Barrio, where a Three Kings Day parade showcases vibrant cultural expressions. While the holiday's core significance is widely shared among Christians, the specific customs and observances can vary greatly, reflecting the rich diversity within the Christian community.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Epiphany (holiday)
The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, Theophany, and El Día de los Reyes, is a Christian feast day that is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. It observes the traditional arrival of the three wise men, or magi, at Bethlehem to visit the infant Jesus Christ. For many Christians worldwide, the Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season. The word epiphany derives from Greek and means "to show" or "to reveal."
The holiday of the Epiphany is based on the Nativity story, the narrative of the birth of Jesus, from the Gospel of Matthew. The story describes the three magi following a star to Bethlehem, where they present the newborn Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. To Christians, the story symbolizes the significance of the birth of Jesus, the presence of God on Earth.
Different groups of Christians observe the Epiphany uniquely around the world. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates it on January 6, while Eastern Christians observe it on January 19. Many Protestants commemorate the holiday with an entire Epiphany season that lasts until Ash Wednesday. The feast of the Epiphany is especially popular in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, where Christians observe it with gifts and festive foods.
Background
The Epiphany and the celebrations associated with it are rooted in the Nativity story in the Christian Bible's Gospel of Matthew. In the book's second chapter, Matthew writes of three wise men named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar—these figures have also been portrayed as kings—coming to Jerusalem from the east to find the newborn king of the Jews, whose star they had seen rising in the sky. King Herod of Judea is disturbed by the birth of such a king, whom he believes will threaten his rule. Herod sends the magi to look for the infant king and report his location to him.
The wise men resume their journey and again see the star in the sky. They follow it until it stops over the place of the king's birth in the town of Bethlehem. The magi see the baby Jesus Christ and his mother, Mary. They worship him and present him with gifts of gold; frankincense, a perfume; and myrrh, anointing oil. These gifts symbolize Jesus's kingship, divinity, and mortality. The story of the magi ends with the three men returning to their home countries without consulting Herod, for they had been warned of his treachery in a dream.
Christians eventually came to consider the visit of the magi to Jesus's birthplace as a holy event. They began referring to it as the Epiphany, or manifestation, for it marked the appearance of the divine Jesus in mortal form. Christians in the Western Church began observing the Epiphany as a feast day in the fourth century CE.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Christians celebrated Christmas from December 24, Christmas Eve, to January 5, the night before the Epiphany. These twelve days of Christmas were a time of raucous festivities that led up to the actual feast day of January 6. In the twenty-first century, Christians of all denominations—including Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Christians—continue to observe the feast of the Epiphany in their own ways.
Overview
Roman Catholics mark the Epiphany on a single day, January 6. The pope usually celebrates the holiday with a special mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Some American Catholic dioceses wait until the first Sunday after January 6 to observe the Epiphany with a mass. Some Protestant churches celebrate the Epiphany from January 6 to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, in late winter or early spring. Eastern Christian churches, such as the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, observe the Epiphany not as the visit of the magi to the infant Jesus, but rather as the baptism of the adult Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The holiday in these Orthodox churches occurs on January 19, twelve days after the Eastern Christian Christmas. A favorite Epiphany event in some Eastern Orthodox churches, particularly the Greek Orthodox church, involves a priest blessing the waters by throwing a cross into the sea or a river for swimmers to retrieve.
The Epiphany is especially popular in Spanish-speaking regions of the world such as Latin America and many Latino communities in the United States. In these areas, the day is known as El Día de los Reyes, or Three Kings Day. Many Christians in these countries dress up as the three magi and distribute candy and other gifts to the public.
In Mexico and other Latino countries, Christians bake Rosca de Reyes, or king's bread. This is a ringed sweet bread made to resemble a king's crown. Bakers sometimes hide a small figurine of Jesus inside the bread. Slices are then cut for everyone present. Those who find the figurine in their slice must make tamales for their family on Candlemas on February 2, which celebrates Jesus's presentation in the temple.
For the Epiphany in Puerto Rico, children place boxes of hay under their beds for the wise men's camels to eat. The magi are then expected to leave gifts in the boxes as thanks. Children may also leave shoes outside their bedroom doors for the wise men to fill with gifts. Latino families usually end their Epiphany celebrations with family dinners and desserts of Rosca de Reyes.
Meanwhile, in the United States, New York City's El Museo del Barrio, a Latin American culture museum, observes the Epiphany by sponsoring an annual Three Kings Day parade. Thousands of people participate in this event, which features floats, puppets, camels, music, and dancing. Latino Christians in the United States and other countries may also sing traditional Spanish-language Christmas songs called aguinaldos on Three Kings Day.
Bibliography
"Epiphany 2015: Dates, Customs, Scripture and History of 'Three Kings Day' Explained." Huffington Post, 7 Jan. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/04/epiphany-2015‗n‗6350116.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
"Epiphany 2016: Dates, Customs and History of 'Three Kings Day.'" Huffington Post, 5 Jan. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/epiphany-2016‗us‗568c414de4b0a2b6fb6da2b6. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Glum, Julia. "When Is Three Kings Day 2016? 10 Facts about the Traditions and History of Epiphany." International Business Times, 4 Jan. 2016, www.ibtimes.com/when-three-kings-day-2016-10-facts-about-traditions-history-epiphany-2248497. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Lilley, Sandra. "Happy Three Kings Day! Families Celebrate across U.S." NBC News, 6 Jan. 2015, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/happy-three-kings-day-families-celebrate-across-u-s-n279956. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
"Matthew, Chapter 2." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Moreno, Carolina. "Three Kings' Day Celebration: History and Traditions behind 'El Día de los Reyes.'" Huffington Post , 6 Jan. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/06/three-kings-day-celebration-history-and-traditions-behind-el-dia-de-los-reyes‗n‗2412379.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Sheets, Connor Adams. "When Is Three Kings' Day? Facts, History of the January 6 Holiday." International Business Times, 2 Jan. 2015, www.ibtimes.com/when-three-kings-day-facts-history-january-6-holiday-1762917. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.