The Christian Feast of Epiphany

Today is a celebration in many Christian churches of Epiphany. Also known as Three Kings’ Day or the Baptism of Jesus, it is a feast which celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. Western churches primarily commemorate this day as the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus which represents the physical manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. In Eastern Churches, this day commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River which represents his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. Who were the Magi? What is the history behind this celebration and how do the various churches celebrate this day?

The Magi (or the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings) are only mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 2 verses 1-12). They were distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus and his mother, Mary, after his birth. They brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Magi (Latin magus = Greek magos = Persian magus from the Avestan magȃunȗ) were a religious caste of Zoroastrian priests who gained an international reputation for astrology and astronomy.  Matthew does not mention the number of Magi but traditional it is assumed to be three based on the number of gifts which were given. Their identification as kings is linked to Psalm 72:11 “May all kings fall down before him.” Even though nothing in Matthew’s gospel implies that the Magi were kings, the link to the Psalm may be due to the face that kneeling is indicative of great respect. Although many people think, as tradition has taught us, the Magi had visited the baby Jesus on the night of his birth. However, Matthew’s account doesn’t specify when after his birth they arrived.

The feast of Epiphany may have originated in the Greek speaking eastern half of the Roman Empire as a feast to honor the baptism of Jesus. The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast is 361 CE by Ammianus Marcellius. The scope of Epiphany was expanded to include the commemoration of his birth, the visit of the Magi, all of Jesus’ childhood events, his baptism by John the Baptist and the miracle at the Cana wedding. In Latin speaking West, the holiday came to emphasize the visit of the Magi. In 385 CE, the pilgrim Egeria (aka Silvia) described as a celebration in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, she called “Epiphany” that commemorated the Nativity. A sermon on December 25, 380, St Gregory of Nazianzus referred to the day as “the Theophany” also commemorating the nativity. Then in later, sermons on January 6^th and 7^th, he declared a celebration of the birth of Christ and the visit of the Magi. Fifth Century St John Cassian noted that Egyptian monasteries celebrated the Nativity and the Baptism together.

In most Protestant churches, the season of Epiphany extends from January 6^th until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Catholic churches celebrate Epiphany as a single day on a Sunday. Orthodox churches celebrate Epiphany on January 19^th. In Spanish and other Spanish speaking countries, The Three Kings (los Reyes Magos) receive letters from children and brings them gits the night before Epiphany. Each Magi represents different regions: Europe, Asia and Africa and come from the Orient on their camels and visits the houses (much like Santa Claus and his reindeer). Towns organizes cabalgatas in which the kings and their servants parade through the town and throw sweets to those in attendance. In Poland and German speaking Catholic areas, sternsinger (star singers) are a group of children dressed as the magi, one carries a star, and sing Christmas carols as they go door to door. A ring-shaped cake is made for the Epiphany feast. In Spain and Portugal, the cake contains a small figure representing the Magi and a dry bean. The person who gets the figure is “crowned” and the one gets the bean must pay the value of the cake to the person who originally brought it. In Mexico, the cake contains a figure and whoever gets it must organize and host the family celebration for the Candelaria, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, usually held in February.

In conclusion, Epiphany is a Christian feast which celebrates various aspects of Jesus’ birth and life. The feast has a long history and variations in what is commemorated. Depending on the church and the countries, the celebrations vary from the focus of the feast and the activities and food presented at the feast. Some Christian churches do not celebrate this feast at all. The Magi were priests from the East who watched the stars and were said to follow the Star of Bethlehem to the baby Jesus. To those who celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, happy holiday!