Epiphany January 6

In antiquity and originally, the epiphany draws its background and meaning from pagan celebrations of light, as indicated by the etymology of the word, the substantive neuter of the adjective Greek epiphanios, from epiphanês “illustrious, brilliant”, from épi- “on” and phainein “to shine”.

In the solar calendar, before becoming part of the Christian extension of Christmas, this celebration is part of the cycle which begins at the winter solstice, the December 22. This night of the solstice — the longest of the year — announces the lengthening of the days and, by extension, the rebirth of the light supposed to be at the origin of all things, notably in the agricultural calendar. We then celebrate the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Light.

THE " Epiphanes » are, in culture Greek, the twelve Olympian gods who appeared to men, starting with Zeus, the god of heavenly justice. It should also be noted that it was on this day - at least its equivalent, because the Julian calendar in force at the time differed from ours - that the festival of the twelve Epiphanian gods (in other words the twelve Olympians) took place in ancient Rome.

The notion of epiphany has, for example, been found on coins from the second century BC..

Around January 6, the days begin to lengthen noticeably, confirming the promise of the solstitial night.

The notion of Epiphany was found in turn in the festival of light in antiquity, in Roman festivals and in Christian festivals, before being secularized. By its round shape and its golden color, the galette des rois symbolizes the sun.

January 6 is a date chosen by the Father of the Church Epiphanius of Salamis, in his Panarion, as the date of Jesus' birth, in order to refute a competing date proposed by the Gnostics of Logo.

Until the end of the iv century, this feast is the great and unique Christian feast "of the manifestation of Christ in the world" (manifestation expressed, first, by the coming of the Magi, then by different episodes: the Nativity, the voice of the Father and the presence of a dove during the baptism on the Jordan, the miracle of Cana, etc.). Fathers of the Church such as Saint John Chrysostom established traditions to commemorate three events on the same day during the feast: the Adoration of the Magi, the Baptism in the Jordan thirty years later and the Wedding at Cana thirty-one years later. Since the Middle Ages, the Christian liturgy has brought together these three events but Christian piety and art have privileged the Adoration of the Magi.

Since the introduction of a Nativity (Christmas) celebration on December 25, the current liturgy emphasizes specific meanings according to confessions and cultures.

Since the xix century it is also called the "day of the kings" in direct reference to the coming and the adoration of the three wise men.