Why Do Christians Celebrate Epiphany?

We often use the word 'epiphany' to refer to a revelation or recognition of importance in our lives. Epiphany, in the liturgical sense, is a feast day celebrated mostly in the Catholic and Orthodox faiths. Epiphany is the day Christians remember the visit of the Magi to the stable in Bethlehem. In the eastern or Orthodox rites of the Church, Epiphany is also the day which we remember the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan river. When John baptized Jesus, he also proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of god. He said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.'

As the The Magi presented gifts to the Holy Child, many countries in southern and eastern Europe and also in areas of Latin America celebrate Epiphany, as the gift-giving holiday. Although Epiphany is a major feast day in the Christmas season, it receives almost no recognition in many western countries. The average American has never even heard of the feast of Epiphany.

Epiphany is known by several names. It is called Feast of the Three Kings, Theophany, the Adoration of the Magi, Fiesta de Los Reyes, Three Kings Day and Twelfth Night. In the Liturgical year of the Catholic church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, after the feast of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family, which is the next Sunday after Christmas. The priests vestments are white as are any feast days dealing with the divinity of Christ (Easter, the transfiguration, etc.)

Mary and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem for the census where of course, Jesus was born. But according to Jewish law, they needed to waited until the eighth day after the birth of Immanuel or Jesus. On the eighth day, a Hebrew male child is taken to the temple and presented for circumcision and the mother has her ritual purification. We refer to this eight day period as the Octave of Christmas and the whole of the Christmas season as Christmastide.

During this time, the first Slaughter of the Holy Innocents (Liturgical year: Dec. 28) by King Herod, occurred. Herod had heard rumors of a 'new king' that was born. He ordered all male children under two killed in an effort to rid the area of the rumored king and potential threat to his throne. Mary and Joseph were preparing to leave, having been warned in dreams of the immanent danger. It was then that the wisemen arrived and located the place where Jesus was, led by the large star. They encouraged Mary and Joseph to flee to Egypt for safety from Herod's soldiers.

Epiphany (Greek: åðéöÜíåéáis) means 'manifestation' or 'made known'. Latin texts use the terms Illuminatio (lighting or shining forth) Manifestatio (made known) and Declaratio (Declaration). Many Christians celebrate Epiphany as the point at which Jesus is revealed or made known as the Messiah. Whether we think of Epiphany as western Catholics with the visit of Magi only, or include as the eastern church does, the Baptism, both events are a clear revelation of Jesus as the Christ, the 'light of the world' that shines forth in to a people in darkness.