We Three Kings . . .

Today is Epiphany

The day that the Kings arrived in Bethlehem

It's the official end to the festive Christmas season!

The Twelfth Night

The Twelfth Night (Epiphany) also marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Kings, or Wise Men. The word 'Epiphany' comes from Greek and means to show, referring to Jesus being revealed to the world. 

The three men - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar followed the star of Bethlehem to meet the baby Jesus.   Their gifts of gold represented his royal standing, frankincense his divine birth and myrrh his mortality.

This is the beginning of the season of Epiphany which extends from today until the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
And the church's paraments, vestments and altar clothes shall be green during this season.

A tradition for Ephiphan is King's Cake

And I like to make three --

one for us and two for gifts

Puff pastry filled with an almond filling

Different from the New Orleans Mardi Gras King's Cake

Different but the same

For they both have a surprise hidden inside!

A little note explaining the tradition of the King's Cake

(or Galette des Rois in France)

"Our" King's Cake I shared this morning with my Bible Study group.

A new tradition for them.

This afternoon, as is tradition, down comes the tree,

Back into the box goes the Nativity Set

The German pyramid is put away for another year

And the mantles are "de-greened".

The house looks sparse without the finery of Christmas.

But it's the way the house should be in January!