Why do people celebrate epiphany

We want your thoughts on COP How you can help garden wildlife this winter. Should the number of dislikes on YouTube videos be hidden? Home Menu. Epiphany: What is it and why do Christmas decorations come down today? Getty Images. If you haven't taken the Christmas decorations down already, you may be asked to help to do this today. Epiphany is a Christian festival that marks the day the three Wise Men went to visit the baby Jesus. What is Epiphany? In Portugal , people take part in Epiphany carol singing known as the 'Janeiras' January songs.

On the Island of Maderia they're known as the 'Cantar os Reis' singing the kings. In Italy , some children also get their presents on Epiphany. But they believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings them. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill. In Austria , at Epiphany, some people write a special sign in chalk over their front door. It's a reminder of the Wise Men that visited the baby Jesus.

It's made from the year split in two with initials of the names that are sometimes given to 'the three wise men', Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, in the middle.

Puerto Rico. United States. Top Cities View All Destinations. Buenos Aires. Dallas-Fort Worth. Mexico City. Trending Regions. Trending Cities. Our Trips. Travel Map. About Matador Careers Advertise. More like this. Religion Festivals. What did you think of this story? Trending Now. Since the French are now attempting to recover from the excess eating and celebrations of Christmas and New Years, currently there is less feasting. It is a puff pastry cake which is stuffed with almond and sugar paste.

The person who finds the bean typically wears a gold paper crown. On Epiphany, a large collection was taken at church. The parishioners in charge of the collection received a galette to be divided in equal portions among them. Eventually, the tradition spread and each household shared a cake to share with all family members and servants. The first slice was reserved for the first poor who would knock at the door.

Groups of young people called Sternsinger also known as Star Singers travel door to door dressed as the three Wiseman, plus the leader carrying a star. These singers will be offered treats at the homes they visit, but they also ask for donations for worthy causes. The young people then perform the traditional house blessing by marking the year over the doorway with chalk.

This protects the inhabitants from evil in the upcoming year. Regardless, it is a great tradition to utilize to bless the house. Additionally, Germans eat a golden pastry ring filled with orange and spice representing gold, frankincense and myrrh for a Three Kings cake.

The person who receives the piece containing the trinket becomes king or queen for the day. Also, it is tradition to decorate Christmas trees with cookies and other sweets. On Epiphany, the Christmas trees are plundered of their cookies and sweets by children and hungry adults. Women gathered on Epiphany for high tea accompanied by wine to honor the Miracle at the Wedding of Cana.

A special cake would be made and a candle lit and placed in the cake for each member for the family. As each candle would go out, that would symbolize the order of death for each family member. In the Philippines, custom is to have children leave shoes out on the eve of Epiphany to receive sweets and money from the Three Kings , similar to what European children do for St.

Nicholas on his feast day. Some towns have parades of three men dressed in royal robes riding on horses giving candy and gifts to children. In Poland, the evening of the Epiphany is called szczodry wieczor, which means a bountiful or plentiful evening.