3 KINGS DAY EPIPHANY

What It is a public holiday in many countries It marks two events in Jesus Christ’s life, according to the Christian Bible: the three wise men, or kings, visited infant Jesus St John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

When/what December 25 was finally adopted by the Western Christian Church as the date of the Feast of Christ's birth. the Eastern Christian Church recognizes January 6 as the celebration of the nativity. January 6 was also kept as the physical birthday in Bethlehem.

How it is celebrated Different customs

Who/What January 6, which is 12 days after Christmas in the Gregorian calendar, marks not only the end of the Christmas holidays but also the start of the Carnival season The Three Kings who saw a star appear on Christmas day and followed the star to Bethlehem to greet baby Jesus. Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, these three kings saw, on the night when Christ was born, a bright star, followed it to Bethlehem and found there the Christchild and presented it with gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

How In some Orthodox Christian countries, like Cyprus, priests bless a cross and throw it into the sea or river. Swimmers then race to reach the cross first. In Russia, the rivers and lakes are made holy by priests and are believed to have special healing powers. Russians make holes in the ice, often in the shape of a cross, and bathe in the freezing cold water.

How In Romania and Moldova, Epiphany, or Boboteaza, celebrations take on a unique tone. Following religious services, men participate in winter horse races. Before the race, the men line up with their horses before the priest who will bless them by sprinkling them with green branches that have been dipped into Epiphany holy water. Sometimes people desire to have this blessing for themselves as well.  Winning the Epiphany race is a great honor for both horse and rider, while the post-race celebrations, win or not, are highly festive. As in other Orthodox heritage countries, water rites also play a special role on this day. A unique piece of Romanian folk wisdom holds that if a girl slips on ice - or better yet falls into water- on Epiphany, she will surely marry before the year is out. 

How In some European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, children dress as the three kings and visit houses. In their roles as the kings, or wise men, they sing about the Jesus’ birth and pay homage to the “king of kings”. They are rewarded with praise and cookies. In Croatia people make special cakes with a little crown inside:who gets it, will be wealthy & fortunate that year. Children get presents and sweets, as well.

Symbols Various paintings, artworks and sketches show the three wise men and Jesus. Some paintings artworks show the three wise men on the way to Bethlehem or adoring baby Jesus. The kings are important because their visit illustrates that Jesus was the king of all kings who came for the Jews and the Gentiles. The star that guides the wise men to Christ also symbolizes Epiphany, as well as the three gifts they gave to Jesus: Gold (fit for a king). Frankincense (used to worship at a temple). Myrrh (used for embalming, as well as a salve for irritations such as diaper rash).

Epiphany Many Orthodox churches consider Jesus’ baptism to be the first step towards the crucifixion. The liturgical color for the Epiphany season is white. Epiphany means “vision of God”