Epiphany 2022: Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6 of every year. It is also known as Epiphany or Theophany. It is a day to celebrate the revelation of God in his son as a human in Lord Jesus Christ.
Since the end of the second century, the Three Kings Day has been observed even before the Christmas holiday has been celebrated. It is typically celebrated on the 12th Day after Christmas.
According to the Bible, the Three Kings Day marks the three wise men’s visit to the baby Jesus and also the day to remember the baptism.
The Three Kings Day or Epiphany or Theophany represents the biblical adoration of baby Jesus by the three kings or wise men named Melchior from Europe, Caspar from Arabia, and Balthazar from Africa.
The trio found the baby Jesus by following the star in the desert for nearly twelve days to Bethlehem. To represent the baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts, they traveled by horse, camel, and elephant respectively.
The Three Kings Day marks the commemoration of baby Jesus’ birth, his visit to the Magi, Childhood events, and his baptism in Jordan by John, The Baptist. The day also commemorates the miracle at the wedding in Cans, Galilee.
It fairly represents that Baptism is an important event celebrated. In A.D. 361 Ammianus Marcellinus referenced the word Epiphany as a religious feast. St.Epiphanius changed the Epiphany to “Christ’s Birthday” which asserts the Miracle of Sana that took place on that Calendar Day.
On December 25th of 380 A.D., St. Gregory of Nazianzus referred to the Epiphany as Theophany, and he said that it is a day to celebrate the holy nativity of Christ and he advised his followers to celebrate the baptism of Christ on the day.
Then Three Kings added two more sermons, where he declared the celebration of Christ’s birth and Visit of the Magi. After then they would commemorate the Baptism of Baby Jesus.
At this time, the commemoration of two events has been observed on two occasions. St. John Cassian has said that in his day the Egyptians celebrated the two events together on January 6th.
The Three Kings Day has been honored as the only commemoration of the nativity by the Armenian Apostolic Church.
On Three Kings Day, invite family members, friends, co-workers and arrange them a large meal at your home. In some places, parties will be organized to celebrate the day.
It is also a day to clean up a house as it is a perfect time to remove the Christmas decorations.
Three Kings Day is also widely known as Epiphany, Little Christmas, Theophany, Baptism of Jesus, Denha, and Dia de Los Reyes.
In some cultures, small ring-shaped cakes called Rosca de Reyes are baked with a plastic baby figurine inside, representing baby Jesus.
The Bible does not specify the names or number of Magi who visited the baby Jesus.
Gifts of gold, resin myrrh, and frankincense oil were given to Jesus, each serving symbolic importance.
Just like stockings are hung on Christmas for receiving presents, children fill their shoes with treats for the camels of the Three Wise Men and leave them out.