Christmastide and Epiphany

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[Salvation]

Christmastide and Epiphany

Christmastide

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For most, Christmas is over by December 26, and life has resumed its normal activities. The Church, on the other hand, observes an Octave of Christmas until January 1 (after the Jewish practice of an eight-day celebration) and an extended Christmastime until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. (It is now celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.) The popular Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," is rooted in the festive celebration of Christmastime and a celebration of the Catholic faith, from a time in England and Ireland when Catholics had to disguise their Catholic beliefs.

During Christmastime, there are feasts of three martyrs: St. Stephen on December 26, who represents those who went to their death willingly; St. John the Evangelist on December 27, who represents those who were willing to die but were not put to death; and the Holy Innocents on December 28, representing those who were put to death without their choice, recalling the events surrounding the Birth of Christ.

On the Sunday between Christmas and January 1, the Church celebrates the Holy Family. This feast is especially important today as many families today face struggles and challenges in living their Faith.

Epiphany

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Epiphany is normally celebrated on January 6, although it can be celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, as is done in the United States and many other countries. It may also combine the celebration of all three epiphanies ("showing forths") of Christ – His epiphany to the Magi at His birth, His epiphany to St. John at His baptism in the Jordan River and His epiphany to the disciples and the opening of His public ministry by the miracle of Cana.

However, its primary significance is the closing of the Christmas season with the celebration of the visit of the Magi to the manger (Matthew 2:1-12). The Messiah is thus shown to have come to all people, not just the Jews. The three kings represent the three major races:

Melchior, an old white man with a long, white beard, bearing the gift of gold for Christ’s royalty; 
Caspar, young and of darker hue, carrying incenses for Christ’s divinity;  
Balthasar, a black man, offering myrrh for Christ’s suffering and death. 

The names of the wise men are not given in the Bible, but were supplied by later story tellers to enrich the meaning and celebration of the Epiphany.

 

Blessing of the Home

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 A tradition associated with Epiphany is the blessing of homes with holy water and incense. Using blessed chalk, a parent or priest can mark the inside of the main door of the house with the initials of the Magi and a code of the current year connected with crosses: 20+C+M+B+09. Another explanation of the initials (C-M-B) are the fist letters of the blessing: Christus mansionem benedicat (Latin, "May Christ bless the house").

[Salvation]

The world takes down Christmas the day after December 25th. Christians and Catholics continue to celebrate Christmnastide through the Epiphany and for some, through the Baptism of the Lord.

[Salvation]

What is Christmastide?

WHAT IS CHRISTMASTIDE?

Christmastide is the season of celebration after Christmas, a season of joy. During this period we celebrate events in the child life of Our Lord: the Circumcision, the Epiphany, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Purification, etc. The length of this period is regulated by the position of Septuagesima Sunday, which may occur any time between January 16 and February 22.

The period after Christmas symbolizes the youth of Jesus, the years that intervened between His birth and the beginning of His public life. We call this His hidden life in Nazareth.

[netmilsmom]

In our house, the ornaments come off the tree, the red skirt is replaced with green and the Angel on the top becomes a crown. The lights and gold bead garland stays.

We go from Christmas tree to Epiphany tree until Jan. 6th

[Salvation]

That’s a wonderful idea.

[Ciexyz]

Epiphany tree - how appropriate.

[netmilsmom]

>>Epiphany tree - how appropriate.<<

Actually, it was my 11 year old’s idea. She wanted the tree up until Epiphany. I hate the work that has to be put into taking the thing down. She suggested we take everything off, put the crown on it and three “gifts” under. We can leave the nativity set out too. It’s Fisher Price and they still play with it.

[tioga]

we do not take the tree down until Jan 6th....the priest at my son’s church stated the same sentiment.

[Ciexyz]

I bought a red Christmas tulip for the tabletop and it opened up in full bloom two days ago. The beautiful round cups of each bloom are magnificent, a reminder of God's glory in the dead of winter.