What does the Epiphany celebrated on January 6th mean?

If it is officially set for Friday in the Christian calendar, the Feast of the Epiphany is often expected on the Sunday closest to January 6 in France. Regardless of the date, the celebration aims for the Church to celebrate the Magi’s worship of the infant Jesus and the universality of his message. But from the identity of the “Kings” to Galette, the Epiphany is above all a matter of folk lore.

The holiday season, opened by Christmas and extended by the New Year, concludes. And we never fail to devour the frangipane (or brioche) of his community. The celebration of the Epiphany is undoubtedly one of the most well-established events in French homes.

However, we have sometimes forgotten about its origin and history. Take a look at the meaning of this event—and the customs associated with it—officially set on Friday.

January 6th or the following Sunday?

It is necessary to determine the date of the Epiphany. In principle, it is celebrated on January 6, according to Catholic Church website. However, many French people will wait until Sunday to invite him to their table. The reason for this delay is more banal than theological. Not being kept among the holidays sanctioned by the Concordat of 1802, the Church allowed her followers to postpone it to the following Sunday, January 8 in this year, so that they could take full advantage of it.

Because the feast of the Epiphany is, of course, of a religious nature. Etymological dimension: The term thus comes from a Greek word with a double meaning. First, it refers to the light – since ancient times noted that the day began to lengthen significantly at the beginning of January – and above all, it evokes the “appearance” or “appearance”.

In the Christian context, it is originally about commemorating the divine incarnation through the arrival of the baby Jesus into the world.

A reminder of love

But the destination of the party has changed quite a bit over time. Indeed, the remembrance of the Nativity for December 25th and the Baptism of Christ were reserved for the Sunday following the Epiphany. Therefore, this book focuses on recalling another New Testament incident: the worship of Jesus by the “magi”.

This is where it gets complicated. Indeed, the scene mentioned in Chapter 2 of the Gospel of MatthewDon’t overwhelm the details. Among these “magi”, whom the evangelist mentions intending to “worship” before the “King of the Jews”, one does not know either the name or the number. We hardly know that they come from the “East”.

One subtlety, but an important one. He points out that the travelers are neither from Judea nor from Galilee, and therefore are not Jews. They assert themselves as evidence of universality “good news” By Christ and by the Church that intends to convey the message.

Solve the riddle of the Magi

However, we know something else about the visit of the Magi to Jesus. They do not come empty-handed, but with a chest full of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If the text of Scripture did not explain the choice of these offerings, generations of interpreters would undertake to do so centuries after they were written.

This is the case of Jacques de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa and above all an Italian historian of the thirteenth century, As noted Cross. The material splendor of gold highlights Christ’s royalty, and the fumes of incense are lifted into the air in homage to his divinity. Myrrh is a sad omen: it is used in the care of the dead, even their mummification, and the plant symbolizes the sufferings and crucifixion of Christ.

These three offerings may have led to the belief that the Magi were three to bow down to Jesus. Nothing is certain about that because everything here is about the folk tradition that will also make them ‘kings’, and call them names, moreover, telegram Note that they began to appear in the VI century. We find Jacques de Voragine who rejects these identities and singles out personalities, a sign that in the Middle Ages they were already well cultivated:

“The first of the Magi was called Melchior, he was an old man with white hair and a long beard. .) The third, with a black face, and a full beard, was called Balthazar.”

These physical details, associated with different ages of life, provide one last piece of information. Everyone is an ambassador for a part of the world. To Melchior Europe, to Gaspard Asia, to Balthazar Africa.

A stifling pagan pie?

Besides catechism for some, Sheila song where Unknown movie For others, the Elders have another good reason to stay in mind: the Gallites. But the same applies to pastries as to the entire Epiphany, its history is mixed.

Such as indicates in particular National GeographicIt appears to be a legacy of the Roman Saturnalia winter celebrations. In a carnival logic where social roles could be reversed, Roman citizens would then invite their slaves to share a cake with them. And in this cake? Yes, beans indeed. Within Roman society, which jealously watched republican manifestations, there was no question of a king. The one who falls on the bean is only the “Prince of Saturnalia”. We grant him all the same wishes for this day.

Saturnalia still adopts the last use around this cake. The youngest guest goes under the table and blindly names the recipients of the shares. It is a custom that has also survived to this day.