Epiphany

Nativity plays and Christmas cards frequently imply there is only one story of the birth of Jesus but, as we have seen, there are two, and traditionally the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ child is celebrated on Epiphany ( meaning "manifestation","revelation" or "showing") on January 6th. In fact, until the fourth century Christmas itself was always celebrated on January 6th and Greek Orthodox, Coptic and Syrian Christians still retain this older tradition.

Epiphany marks the showing of the Christ child to the world. At church services the story of the coming of the wise men is read from Matthew chp 2, telling Christians that although Jesus was born a Jew his significance was for the whole world. While the wise men's visit. if often portrayed as taking place immediately after Jesus' birth, it may well be that he was up to two years old at the time as Herod ordered all babies up to that age: in Bethlehem to be killed.

In Great Britain Epiphany is often regarded simply as the last day of the Christmas season, a time for. packing away decorations and taking down cards, but. some churches will still celebrate with an Epiphany Eucharist before they dismantle their cribs and the shepherds in the crib scene will be replaced by the wise men. Some families who have constructed crib at home like to place the figures of the wise men at a distance from the stable at the beginning of the Christmas season and gradually move them closer until they reach the baby Jesus on Epiphany. (In fact the crib should stay in place until Candlemas!)

In former days in England Epiphany/Twelfth Night was a time for mischief and jokes (hence the name of Shakespeare's play) like April Fools Day. In Northern France children gather on the road on Epiphany Eve to meet the kings and eat galettes des rois, the child who finds a china baby in their cake becomes king or queen for the evening. In Hungary there may be processions of carol singers dressed- as kings-walking around the-towns. The famous Russian story of Baboushka is also associated with this time.

In Orthodox churches huge bonfires are lit to guide the kings and many chose this time to hold their baptism services. This reminds us that the other story particularly connected with this festival is the baptism of Jesus. by John in the River Jordan.

Celebrating Epiphany

The Journey of the Wise Men

Epiphany marks the arrival of the wise men to see Jesus. Its date is 6th January, but the four Sundays following traditionally fall into the season of Epiphany. Often schools decide to pack away all evidence of Christmas and Epiphany celebrations before the Spring Term begins, but in churches the manger scene is changed significantly over the season. It could be an interesting exercise to follow this pattern in the classroom if 6th January falls within term time. The process is as follows:

• When setting up your crib scene before Christmas include only the shepherds as visitors, not the wise men. Do not put up the star.
• In the days before 6th January move the shepherds away from the manger in stages (back to their flocks!) and the figures of the wise men closer to the scene, also in stages. The star is placed above the crib. The movement itself can be "secret" and the class track the journey in their diaries, thinking about the dangers and difficulties of the journey. (Perhaps using a stimulus such as T.S. Eliot's "The Journey of the Magi".) If you wish to follow an actual geographical route then begin the journey in ancient Babylon (Iraq) and bring the Magi along the Fertile Crescent and down the coast of Palestine.
• On 6th January all Christmas decorations should be taken down and the stable removed from the crib scene (Matthew's account of the visit indicates a house not a stable). The wise men reach their destination and the story is told.

Gifts and Gift Bringers

Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Bible's most famous gift-bringers at Bethlehem with their symbolic gifts. This symbolism (the traditional leaders from different nations, majesty, godhead and suffering) could in itself form the basis of work on Epiphany. What is Matthew saying about Jesus with this rich helping of symbolism? There are several other well known legends told at this time which have equally strong messages:

• The Fourth Wise Man who did not find Jesus until the crucifixion, but on his travels used the valuable gifts he had brought for the baby to help others in need.
• Baboushka who is still searching for the baby Jesus and leaves gifts for other children as she looks for the child.
• Papa Panov who expected Jesus to visit him on Christmas Day but, as he waited, gave away the gifts he collected to those in need.

In each of these three stories there is a strong message that giving to the needy is a way of serving Christ, of seeing Him in others. All the tales can be used simply at the level of story or as an introduction to work on using one's own talents for others.