In Malta, Epiphany is commonly known as It-Tre Re (The Three Kings). [150], In Manitou Springs, Colorado, Epiphany is marked by the Great Fruitcake Toss. [118] On this day the priest throws a wooden cross into the water, to symbolize the baptism of Christ. [116], Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, is the feast for the Roman Church that commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, the magi. Another of these Bauernregel, (German farmer's rules) for Epiphany states: Dreiknigsabend hell und klar, verspricht ein gutes Weinjahr or "If the eve of Epiphany is bright and clear, it foretells a good wine year.". In the Dominican Republic, the Da 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. 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. In traditionally Orthodox nations, water, baptismal rites and house blessings are typically central to these celebrations. Inside, the church will have been decorated with garlands. Whoever found the clove was the villain, the twig, the fool, and the rag, the tart. Elsewhere, countries celebrate their patron saints on Holy Days of Obligation. Also known as: Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany, Three Kings Day. [114] In the past bright stars of fabric were sewn onto the background of dark colored quilts, representing the night sky. The Epiphany bread/cake is known as Roscn,[145] Tortell de Reis in Catalan, and in Mexico as Rosca de reyes.[146]. [49], 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.) Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.. The country with the fewest number of holy days of obligation seems to Hong Kong, which has only one: Christmas. 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. If you do not White is the color for the octave; green is the liturgical color for the season. [67], 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. The days are: The Epiphany of the Lord 6 January (transferred to the adjacent Sunday when it falls on Saturday or Monday) The Ascension of the Lord Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter Documents Decree of Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (pdf) Decree of Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (pdf) They are not necessarily three wise men. Traditionally, these blessings should all be finished before the beginning of Great Lent. People will not only bless themselves and their homes by sprinkling with holy water, but will also drink it. They remain above the doors all year until they are inadvertently dusted off or replaced by new markings the next year. [12][13] The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday. [147], Tarpon Springs, Florida, is known for elaborate religious ceremonies related to the Greek Orthodox Church, the most notable being the Epiphany celebration. 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. the site. Often these groups are four girls, or two boys and two girls in order to sing in four-part harmony. In 2022, certain archdioceses in the U.S. observed the Ascension on Thursday as a Holy Day of Obligation, while others transferred it to Sunday and observed the day then. 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. 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. 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. ThoughtCo. Holy Days of Obligation are days other than Sundays on which Catholics are required to participate in the Mass, the primary form of worship. Epiphany originated in the Eastern church and at first included a celebration of Jesus birth. [115] 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. When Christmas Falls on Friday, Can Catholics Eat Meat? 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. 2041) describes the obligations listed in the Precepts of the Church as "the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor." However, Hungarians, in an apparent reference to baptism, refer to the January 6 celebration as Vzkereszt, a term that recalls the words "vz" (water) and "kereszt, kereszt-sg" (baptism). (See Is Epiphany a Holy Day of Obligation? HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, a parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow", "Bulgaria Epiphany Day at an icy Sofia lake finds young men in hot pursuit. 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. The #1 Catholic App! 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. Canada has two: Christmas and Mary, Mother of God. 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. In most parts of Greece a ritual called "small sanctification", Protagiasi or "Enlightment" is practiced on the eve of Epiphany. The Catholic Church has such a rich history, and Holy Days of Obligation represent but a small part of the Churchs story. There will be no dispensation for Christmas. Following the blessings, the celebration moves to the Sponge Docks where food and music are made part of the festivities. 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.[84]. Omissions? [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. Can. In addition, the USCCB received permission in 1999 for each ecclesiastical province in the United States to decide whether Ascension would be celebrated on its traditional day (Ascension Thursday, 40 days after Easter Sunday) or transferred to the following Sunday (43 days after Easter). 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 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." Isidore of Seville, by Becky Roach | Mar 16, 2023 | April, Eucharist, Social Justice, The Bread of heaven came down to earth to feed the hungry. 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. Rather than defining Holy Days by whats required (Mass attendance and a refrain from unnecessary work), we might think about Holy Days of Obligation by what they offer: beautiful reminders of important ways God has shown His love for us. THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Solemnity Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity: THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST Solemnity (Corpus Christi) * When the rank of the celebration is not indicated, it is an Optional Memorial. [87] In the past, Epiphany was also a day for playing practical jokes, similar to April Fool's Day. [49] 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). As a day of feasting, some Filipinos celebrate with gift-giving and greet each other "Happy Three Kings!". In most parts of the world, then, including the United States, the celebration of Epiphany has been transferred to the Sunday that falls between January 2 and January 8 (inclusive). [135], In Transylvania (Erdly/Siebenbrgen), Lutheran and Reformed Christians of Hungarian and Saxon descent celebrate Epiphany with star singing and house blessing, as in Central Europe. 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. These Reis usually begin on Epiphany eve and last until January 20. The Epiphany (also known as 12th Night) is the 12th day of Christmas, January 6 each year, marking the end of the Christmas season. But do you have to go to Mass? In honour of Christs baptism, celebrants escort a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, a tabot, to a local body of water with great ceremony. 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. On January 6, a "Rosca de Reyes" (a ring-shaped Epiphany cake) is eaten and all Christmas decorations are traditionally put away. [130] 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. At the end of the ceremony the priest will bless the waters. 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 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". Sometimes people desire to have this blessing for themselves as well. In the south, in Provence, and in the south-west, a crown-shaped cake or brioche filled with fruit called a gteau des Rois is eaten. Any feast celebrated on a Sunday, such as Easter, falls under normal Sunday Duty and thus isn't included in a list of Holy Days of Obligation. 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. 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.[109]. 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 Stlzel.[69][70][71][72]. Of course, you can still go to church on these days! Pop Quiz: 19 Things to Know About Christianity, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Epiphany. [30] Epiphanius assigns the Baptism to November 6. In the village of Reis Magos, in Goa, there is a fort called Reis Magos (Wise Men) or Trs Reis Magos for Biblical Magi. In south-eastern Romania, following religious services, men participate in winter horse races. Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/epiphany-a-holy-day-of-obligation-542428. The star singing custom had long ago spread throughout Romania and the Republic of Moldova. In Bulgaria, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 and is known as Bogoyavlenie ("Manifestation of God"), (Krashtenie Gospodne or "Baptism of the Lord") or Yordanovden ("Day of Jordan", referring to the river). Christmas The Epiphany (observed on following Sunday) The Assumption . In Goa Epiphany may be locally known by its Portuguese name Festa dos Reis. 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. The holiday is also called the Feast of Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings Day. 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. Epiphanius of Salamis says that January 6 is Christ's "Birthday; that is, His Epiphany" (hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion). Belief holds that the first to reach the wooden cross, thrown by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will enjoy a year of good health. 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. All hope consists in confession. (If a wren could not be found then a sparrow would have to undergo the ritual. The Epiphany of the Lord 6 January (transferred to the adjacent Sunday when it falls on Saturday or Monday), The Ascension of the Lord Thursday after Sixth Sunday of Easter. Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church. Here is the date of Epiphany this year, and the date it will be observed in the United States and most other countries: In this way the birth of Jesus would be made known to all. The United States, by contrast, has a fairly robust eight holy days of obligation, though two to three have been transferred to Sundays (depending on where you live). The Dormition of the Holy Mary Mother of God (August 15) 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. 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. The reference to "readings" suggests that the Basilides were reading the Gospels. The observance of Holy Days of Obligation is part of the Sunday Duty, the first of the Precepts of the Church, and are listed in Canon 1246 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. 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. During the Vespers, fifteen Old Testament lections which foreshadow the Baptism of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. Other Eastern churches, as in Russia, hold to the older Julian calendar for reckoning church dates. Great Lent the fool, and special antiphons are chanted the blessings, the,... The waters to Hong Kong, which has only one: Christmas clove was the,! Bright stars of fabric were sewn onto the background of dark colored quilts, representing night. This blessing for themselves as well the Republic of Moldova next year eve! Will have been decorated with garlands also known as It-Tre Re ( the Three Kings Day replaced new. Great Lent in Malta, Epiphany is marked by the Great Fruitcake Toss https //www.britannica.com/topic/Epiphany. 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