 | Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila Jan 7 | 
What is Epiphany? THE GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN The word "epiphany" has Greek roots and means "manifestation." The first Epiphany occurred soon after Christmas, when the Wise Men found the Christ Child and worshipped Him. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 528The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. When these mysterious wise men bowed down before the Son of God, they also presented Him with gifts that had a profound significance. The gold acknowledged His kingship on earth; the frankincense paid homage to His divinity; the myrrh foretold His sacrificial death and burial, since myrrh was used as an embalming oil. The commemoration of the visit of the Magi has been celebrated by Catholics all over the world in unique ways.
ONE WAY TO HONOR THIS FEAST IS TO HOST AN EPIPHANY PARTY. HOW ABOUT IT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO THROW AN EPIPHANY PARTY?
AN UNFORGETTABLE EPIPHANY You might be surprised at how interested people are in attending an Epiphany party. And why not? They have been told that Christmas is over, and now here is a marvelous extension of it! It's also a better time of year for most people to attend a party. They are able to relax more. The frantic rush to buy gifts is over, and pre-Christmas social events are over. Visitors have gone home. Things have quieted down. The Solemnity of Epiphany occurs on January 6th, although some dioceses move it to the second Sunday after Christmas. You could host your party on January 6th, no matter what day of the week that happens to be. But weekends are better for most people, so why not host it on the Sunday on which your parish celebrates it? Many dioceses will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany on January 2nd. Who would you like to invite? Maybe you could invite someone who's new to your parish? Maybe a combination of friends and family? Give it some thought! When you decide who to invite, make some invitations, digital or paper—take your pick! It's important to keep all your Christmas decorations up. Don't take down your Nativity scene. Christmas lights should be glowing, candles flickering, Christmas music playing! We are still in a time of liturgical feasting! It's hard to go wrong with wine, savory treats, cheese and crackers, nuts, toasted bread, desserts, et cetera. You can provide tea and coffee for guests. If you plan to serve dinner rather than appetizers alone, you could make a soup, a ham, and a salad—or a favorite meal that your family likes to serve around Christmastime. Many people love to get (or make!) a King Cake for Epiphany. If providing a buffet all by yourself sounds overwhelming, make it a potluck and ask guests to contribute something! In addition to the glow of Christmas lights, a crackling fire (even a gas one!) is welcome to everyone. Have Christmas music playing softly in the background. Light some candles. You can also decorate your food table with Christmas accents. Be as simple or as extravagant as you like! To make the feast of Epiphany central to the party, gather a selection of readings. These readings can be Bible verses, short stories, or poems that are imbued with the theme of Christ's Incarnation. They focus on the silent, unassuming, mysterious coming of the Christ. So, when guests mingle and everyone has gotten something to eat and drink, then announce that the "lessons and readings" are about to begin. Gather together and sit down in one room. You could start off by reading a poem about Advent and the heart's longing for a savior, for example. Guests are invited to take turns reading if they wish. Well, sometimes they aren't given the option.  After the readings, recite the Rosary together. Also, this is the perfect time to sing Christmas carols. ("We Three Kings" is a must!) If you know someone who plays an instrument, ask them to bring it. Perhaps your friend or family member can delight your guests by playing well-loved Christmas carols. Add to the evening's specialness by doing all this by candle-and-Christmas-tree light, which would be beautiful. Yes, an Epiphany party is a wonderful way to relish the last days of Christmastide. It's time to bring this tradition back! |
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