"On this blessed day,
we recognize the presence of Christ still alive"
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What is Epiphany ?
Epiphany designates nowadays a Christian feast which celebrates the Messiah coming and incarnating in the world and receiving the visit and the homage of the Magi. It takes place on January 6. In France and Belgium, as this day is not a holiday it is celebrated the second Sunday after Christmas.
The feast is also called " Theophany " which also means " manifestation of God ".
The feast was originally, until the end of fourth century, the one great Christian feast of the manifestation of Christ in the world : incarnation, Nativity, manifestation by the coming of the Magi, manifestation by the voice of the Father and the dove on the Jordan River, manifestatiion through the miracle of Cana.
The feast was originally, until the end of fourth century, the one great Christian feast of the manifestation of Christ in the world : incarnation, Nativity, manifestation by the coming of the Magi, manifestation by the voice of the Father and the dove on the Jordan River, manifestatiion through the miracle of Cana.
Since the introduction of a feast of the Nativity (Christmas) on December 25, Epiphany has specialized in various ways according to the confessions, and adopted various meanings.
Since the nineteenth century, it is also called the day of the Magi in direct reference to the visit and adoration of the Magi.
Etymology :
"Epiphany" is a word of Greek origin, Ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) which means " manifestation " or " appearance " - the verb φαίνω (faïnò), " manifest itself, appear to be obvious " - the use of which is prior to Christianity. Epiphanies are, in Greek culture, the gods that appear to men, like Zeus, Athena, Hermes, Hera,Poseidon, Demeter, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Hestia.
A celebration of Light
Originally Epiphany, is part of the Christmas cycle and has its merits and meaning from pagan celebrations of the Light.
Indeed, Christmas, prior to being a day, is primarily a cycle.
- It peaked on the day marking the winter solstice (or at least one of the daysassociated with the solstice) on December 25. That night of the solstice, whichis the longest of the year, announced the lengthening of days -and by extension- the rebirth of the Light supposed to be the source of all things.
- Then the celebration continues during a number of highly symbolic days : 12 days. Thus Christmas is a holiday that lasts 12 days and 12 nights, 12 representing among others the Totality (12 months, 12 hours, 12 Olympian Gods, 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, etc.).
Indeed, Christmas, prior to being a day, is primarily a cycle.
- It peaked on the day marking the winter solstice (or at least one of the daysassociated with the solstice) on December 25. That night of the solstice, whichis the longest of the year, announced the lengthening of days -and by extension- the rebirth of the Light supposed to be the source of all things.
- Then the celebration continues during a number of highly symbolic days : 12 days. Thus Christmas is a holiday that lasts 12 days and 12 nights, 12 representing among others the Totality (12 months, 12 hours, 12 Olympian Gods, 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, etc.).
- The cycle ends January 6. That's when the days begin to lengthen significantly, that the promise of the solstitial night is bound. We therefore celebrate the Epiphany, the manifestation of Light. By its round shape and itsgolden color, the cake symbolizes the sun.
Note also that it is this day (at least its equivalent, as the former calendar, the Julian calendar, differs from ours) on which was held in ancient Rome the feast of the 12 Epiphanes Gods (ie the 12 Olympians).
Christianity took over all this symbolic matters assimilating the light to Christ, as he is announced as being " the word that illuminates the world ".
source wikipedia (french)
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