Epiphany

Festival of the Christian church, held on 6 January, celebrating the coming of the Magi (wise men) to Bethlehem with gifts for the infant Jesus. It is the 12th day after Christmas, and marks the end of the Christmas festivities, when decorations are put away for the year. The Magi represent the first Gentiles (non-Jews) to visit Jesus, and the festival symbolizes that non-Jews would share in the message of Jesus.

The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and in many countries, people give gifts on Twelfth Night, the night before Epiphany.

The number of gifts has sometimes led to the mistaken belief that three Magi visited Jesus. Although Christian tradition later numbered and named the Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar – Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 2:1–2) only records that wise men came from the East having seen a star, giving no number. It is believed that they were probably astrologers, perhaps from Persia or southern Arabia. The Magi first went to Jerusalem where they asked the whereabouts of one who had been born ‘king of the Jews’, as they had seen his star in the east and come to worship him.

Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were very expensive gifts suitable for honouring a future king. The gifts themselves may be seen as: gold, for a king; frankincense (incense) for a God; and myrrh for anointing a king and for embalming after death. Frankincense or incense was burned in the temple to worship God, and Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

Theophany In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the festival of Epiphany is called the Theophany, and marks three events in Jesus' life: the adoration of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and Jesus' first miracle (the wedding at Cana, John 2:1–11). Some Orthodox churches use an older calendar and celebrate Epiphany on 18 January.