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Dear Parishioners: This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, the “manifestation” of the Christ-child to the whole world. This feast is also often referred to as “Little Christmas.” In Europe, traditionally this is the day in which gifts are exchanged because this is the day the Wise Men, the Magi, gave their gifts to Christ. In Cologne, Germany, the relics of the Wise Men will be shown to the people at a Solemn Mass. In England, in the Royal Chapel, King Charles will offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to a child. In Spain, there will be parades complete with the Wise Men riding on camels into the various Cathedrals. In Poland, this is a traditional time for all the parish priests to visit every home in their parish and to bless the home for the coming year. Polish families mark the wood over the front doors of their homes in this way:
20 + C + M + B + 25
It is the year 2025 separated by Caspar (C), Melchior (M) and Balthazar (B), the three Wise Men.
Closer to home, another tradition is the baking of the “KINGS’ CAKE.” A cake or pastry is baked with a toy baby hidden inside (presumably a toy baby big enough that you won’t swallow and choke on the toy baby!). Whoever “wins” and finds the toy baby is given the honor to make the cake or pastry for the following year. Many Hispanic bakeries will carry Rosca de Reyes,” cake of the kings. Sadly, we have lost many of these customs in the United States. But these customs and traditions help us to remember what Christmas is about and who we are: the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus.
In Italy, the feast of the Epiphany is associated with the visit of the Befana (a corruption of the word, “Epiphany”). La Befana is an ugly, broom-stick riding woman who during the night between January 5th and 6th, brings gifts to children or a lump of coal, depending on whether the child had been good or bad during the year. The legend is, having missed the opportunity to bring a gift to the Child Jesus together with the Wise Men, she now brings gifts to other children during the night.
I am sure that we all know the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas, though the official end of the Christmas season for us Catholics is not until next Sunday (January 12th), when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ, Fr. Brian
PS: Don’t forget to hand in your chances for our 50/50 drawing which will take place after Christmas. Send them in by mail or drop them off at the rectory. As the saying goes, you have to in it to win it! So, be in it and win it. Give them as Christmas gifts to your adult children! It will be a nice way to help the parish at the same time. The drawing will take place after the 12:00 PM Mass on Sunday, January 19th.
Let me know if you need any other modifications!