Churches across the land have incorporated Feast of the Epiphany celebrations into their calendars to mark the time when the Magi (wise men) visited Jesus and also to mark the end of Christmas and the beginning of the season of Epiphany:
In Morristown, NJ:
Morristown holidays go out in blaze of glory
From The Star-Ledger NJ.com (Morristown, NJ)
If left to our own devices, the Yule season would continue at least until Groundhog’s Day. But alas, this Christmas holiday went up in smoke last night, with the traditional burning of the wreaths outside St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown.
The event marked the Epiphany, the Christian celebration of the Three Wise Men’s visit to Bethlehem.
In Rochester, NY:
Epiphany a joy for two Rochester congregations
From the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY)
A group of congregants from two Episcopal churches gathered downtown Wednesday night to celebrate Epiphany.
The holiday, celebrated each year on Jan. 6, marks the day Christians believe the three wise men first saw baby Jesus. Epiphany is also the 12th day of Christmas and officially wraps up the Christmas season.
About two dozen people from St. Stephen Episcopal Church on Chili Avenue and St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church on South Fitzhugh Street met for a short worship service and potluck supper at St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene — or “Two Saints,” as the church is known.
Children also made paper crowns — in the spirit of the three kings — out of construction paper.
In Bethany Beach, DE:
Pocomoke church keeps Epiphany tradition alive
From DelmarvaNow.com
POCOMOKE CITY — When the youth of St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church and their friends from other churches in the Pocomoke area are assembled in the front of the church this Sunday, it will mark the 52nd anniversary of the church’s annual Epiphany Pageant. The service begins at 10 a.m.
The idea to hold an Epiphany Pageant at St. Mary’s was first introduced by the late Isabelle Leach in 1958. Leach, who was teaching Sunday school at the time, wanted to instruct her class on the significance of the Epiphany season in the church year. Many Christians including Episcopalians celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany to commemorate the visit of the three wise men and the manifestation of Christ to the whole world.
The Epiphany pageant at St. Mary’s is in the form of a medieval chancel play, for it takes place in the chancel of the church. Readers narrate the Nativity story from the Gospels as the cast of young people dressed in biblical costumes form tableaus of familiar scenes. A traditional Christian carol is sung with each change of scene.
Share with us in the comments what you did to mark Epiphany in your home or in your church.