HISTORY OF EPIPHANY

January 6 is known on the Christian calendar as Epiphany. It is
sometimes called the "Twelfth Night" being the 12th Day of Christmas. It
signifies the event of the Magi, or Wise Men visiting the baby Jesus,
and is known in certain Latin cultures as Three Kings Day. In the
Eastern (Orthodox and Oriental) churches it is known as the Theophany,
"God manifest" commemorating Jesus' baptism. Note, the Magi did not visit 
the baby Jesus in the Manger. The Gospel of Matthew says they 
visited the "house" and saw the "young child", not an infant. Jesus 
could have been up to 2 years old by this time, as evidenced by King 
Herod's order to kill all children under that age.

So, the "12 Days of Christmas" don't end at Christmas, Advent does.
Instead, the 12 days start with Christmas, and end with Epiphany,
sometimes called Christmastide. The "season" of Epiphany lasts from
January 6 through the day before Lent.

Epiphany is a Greek word that means manifestation, appearance, or
showing forth. Historically, Epiphany began in the eastern Church as the
celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. As the celebration of
Christmas spread eastward, Epiphany changed to its present meaning.
Indeed, the Church of Rome had, by the year 354, separated out the 
commemoration of Christ’s Birth from Epiphany and transferred it to 
December 25.

In the Western churches (Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans) Epiphany
commemorates the "adoration" of the Christ Child by the Magi as they
presented their gifts, thereby "revealing" Jesus to the world as Lord
and King. In some traditions, the "Twelfth Night" party on January 5 is
followed by the exchange of gifts on January 6th. The Russian church's
"Feast of the Nativity," Christmas, is celebrated at this time.

We rarely hear of the 12 Days of Christmas any more, except by way of
Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" play, or the words to the song "The Twelve
Days of Christmas."

     Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
     www.billpetro.com/holidayhistory