Epiphany (holiday)

Epiphany (pronounced ə-PIF-ə-nee) is a Christian feast day that, in Eastern Christian tradition, is also called Theophany. The holiday marks three key events: the Magi’s visit, Jesus’s baptism, and the wedding at Cana. In Western Christianity, the feast primarily focuses on the Magi coming to the Christ child, which is seen as Jesus’s physical revelation to non-Jewish peoples (Gentiles). This is why it is sometimes called Three Kings’ Day or, in some traditions, Little Christmas. For some denominations, Epiphany also kicks off the liturgical season of Epiphanytide.

Eastern Christians, however, emphasize Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River as his public manifestation as the Son of God. The traditional site of John the Baptist’s ministry is Al-Maghtas in Jordan; during Byzantine times, a cross in the middle of the Jordan River marked the spot between that site and Qasr al-Yahud in the West Bank. The fixed date for the feast is January 6, but since 1970, some countries have moved it to the Sunday after January 1. Eastern Churches using the Julian calendar celebrate it on what is, in the Gregorian calendar, January 19 (due to the 13-day difference). Alawites and Middle Eastern Christians also observe it on January 19.

The eve of the feast, January 5, is known as Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve) in many Western churches. The following Monday is called Plough Monday. Common customs include Epiphany singing, chalking doors, blessing homes, eating Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, and attending church services. Many Christians remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve, though in some Christian countries, decorations stay up until Candlemas, which ends Epiphanytide. A 17th-century tradition holds that it is bad luck to take down decorations before Epiphany Eve; if you miss that date, you can do it on Candlemas instead.

The word “Epiphany” comes from the Koine Greek *epipháneia*, meaning “manifestation” or “appearance,” derived from *phainein* (“to appear”). In classical Greek, it described the dawn, an enemy’s appearance in war, or a deity showing itself to a worshipper (a theophany). The Septuagint uses it for manifestations of the God of Israel (2 Maccabees 15:27). In the New Testament, it appears in 2 Timothy 1:10, referring to Christ’s birth or his post-resurrection appearance, and five times for his Second Coming. Greek alternative names include *ta The