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| Christmas ends with Epiphany, but Epiphany is also an important feast. |
Epiphany, the celebration of the
arrival of the three Magi to visit the Christ Child, is often overlooked in
modern culture. This feast is still of
great religious importance and should be celebrated with the same excitement as
Christmas Day itself. Epiphany honors the new-born King and announces His joyous arrival to the world;
it celebrates the Holy Family and their role in our everyday lives as
Catholics.
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| My Sicilian husband (black jacket) with his father, mother, and brother. |
My husband, now 83 years old, was
born in Sicily, a place where Epiphany is still celebrated with intensity. In Sicily, Epiphany is not the end of Christmas, it is a celebration unto itself that is held with great
importance and festivity. The
celebrations in the towns of Bordonaro and Piana degli Albanesi are of special
note.
In Bordonaro an Epiphany tree
covered with fruit and bread is set up, called the Pagghiaru.
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| Over 200 years old, this is a woodcut image of the visitation of the Magi that we display in our home. |
In Piana degli Albanesi, 24km (15
miles) from Palermo, Epiphany shows the rich multicultural nature of Sicily.
The town was founded by a group of refugees from central Albania escaping
marauding Turkish armies. This town celebrates Epiphany following an ancient
Greek-Orthodox religious ritual.
| Special foods are also made on days like Epiphany. On Epiphany we make Mattina Pane Stella di Sicilia, in English “Morning Star Bread of Sicily”, which is bread that can be made any time of year. We choose to make a variant of it on Epiphany called “Kings Bread”. (I'll post this recipe soon.) |
 Here in our home, aside from our seasonal manger, we also set up images of the Holy Family all year round. We have one in particular that is of special importance to our family, it features the three wise men as they visit the Christ Child. |
| Display the Holy Family in your home all year long to encourage devotion in your family. |
There is also a blessing
traditional to Epiphany. The inscription “20 + C + M + B +13” is written above
each door in the house with colored chalk, and the family prays a prayer of
blessing while each room is sprinkled with holy water. Here is the prayer:
Leader: In the Name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We sign the doorway with four
crosses and the numerals of the new year.
(20
+ C + M + B + 13)
Let us pray: May Christ bless
this house!
ALL: Amen!
Each
room of the house is sprinkled with holy water.
Living
room:
Where two or three are gathered
in your name, Lord, You are present.
Bless this room, O Lord.
ALL: Amen!
Kitchen:
Give us this day our daily bread.
Bless this room, O Lord.
ALL: Amen!
Dining
Room:
Prepare us for the heavenly
banquet.
Bless this room, O Lord.
ALL: Amen!
Bedrooms:
Stay with us Lord, when night has
come.
Bless this room, O Lord.
ALL: Amen!
Bathroom:
Cleanse us from all sin.
Bless this room, O Lord.
ALL: Amen!
Leader: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Our Father…
The
leader sprinkles all present with holy water.
Bless this household through all
the days to come, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
ALL: Amen!
Make
Epiphany a memorable celebration for your family. But even more importantly,
emphasize the Holy Family in your family every day.
