12 Ways to Celebrate Twelfth Night & Epiphany: Christmas Daybook, 12
What a joy it’s been to mark the weeks of Advent and Christmas together. I’m grateful for your companionship and encouragement along the way!
As we enter the season of Epiphany, may you continue to walk in the light as He is in the light. You can read a bit more about the liturgical history of Epiphanytide here. Essentially, we walk through the accounts of Christ’s life between his birth and before his Passion with emphasis on the moments Christ was revealed (made manifest) as the Son of God. If the Incarnation is about God becoming man, Epiphany is about God’s marking this man Jesus as a divine Son, sent to reveal God to us. Get ready for some of the most beautiful, captivating accounts of Christ’s life, teaching, and healing in the coming six weeks. Celebrate that Christ came and moved into the neighborhood!
I’ve included a giant list of ideas for you to celebrate the weeks of Epiphany. Pick one or more to share with friends or family in the coming weeks. (I’ll refer back to them again in my Sunday Daybook posts). In much the way the Magi remind us that Christ was given to all peoples, it’s important to recognize that , for much of the world, the Feast of Epiphany is celebrated with much more fanfare than Christmas Day. This is a great time to learn about their traditions.
May you know the light and walk in the light in the coming weeks,
Tamara
p.s., I’d love to hear your Advent and Christmas highlights. Drop me a comment to share!
Watch & Do for Twelfth Night and Epiphanytide:
Read the Matthew account of the Magi: The King of All Kings - Sally Lloyd-Jones
For a movie adaptation of the Luke and Matthew accounts, here’s the Visit of the Shepherds and the Magi scene from Catherine Hardwick's film "The Nativity Story" (2006). (Here’s a 15 minute edit of the magi scenes from the entire movie.)
Move the wisemen to the creche in this unique way: Lin-Manuel Miranda Explains the Magic of Epiphany
Throw a Twelfth Night Party with Three Kings Bread! Brooklyn Bakery Prepares Traditional Three Kings Bread (here’s a helpful video to understand each bit of symbolism in the Three Kings Bread)
Make paper crowns (free printable!) and stars: Paper Bethlehem Star
Learn about Three King’s Day celebrations from around the world: Three Kings Day, Epiphany, or Theophany? - Holidays Around the World
Attend or watch Three Kings parades: Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos - Málaga 2022
Learn about the liturgical significance of the Feast of the Epiphany: The Feast of Epiphany - Aleteia
Chalk the Doors & pray an Epiphany House Blessing: Chalking the Doors - Feast of the Epiphany
Watch here and here for explanations from a couple of Protestant pastors and here for a video demonstration from a Catholic mom: Epiphany Part 1: House Blessing. You can find prayers here or print out a larger prayer service adapted from various sources that leads you to pray through each room of your home: Epiphany House Blessing & Cookie Recipe
Learn more about the theories of the history of the wise men: How to Understand the Three Wise Men, Frankincense & Myrrh - Smithsonian Channel
Read or listen to a performance of T. S. Eliot’s” The Journey of the Magi:” The Journey of the Magi - performed by Denis Adide
If you’re an Alec Guiness fan, you can’t go wrong with this version (which includes text), and here’s another dramatic reading I found compelling.
Sing or listen to various versions of the carol “We Three Kings.”: We Three Kings - Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Go stargazing (and if you can’t get a clear night, watch this!): January Stargazing - Constellations and Meteor Showers
Stargazing resources for the whole year from the Farmer’s Almanac: January 2023 Night Sky Guide & Full Moon Calendar for 2023
Read: Psalm 2, 110:1-7; Joshua 1:1-9; Hebrews 11:32-12:2; John 15:1-16
On the Eve of the Epiphany: Psalm 29, 98; Isaiah 66:18-23; Romans 15:7-13
Pray: We bless you, Abba, Father, for you have visited your people in one like us in all things but sin, and in human fragility you have revealed the face of divinity. Gather into your arms all the peoples of the world, so that in your embrace we may find blessing, peace, and the fullness of our inheritance as your daughters and sons. Amen.
— Revised Common Lectionary Prayers
As we begin Epiphanytide tomorrow, here’s one last Merry Christmas from my home to yours!
*Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 1).