How do United Methodists celebrate Epiphany/Three Kings Day?

This article looks at a number of traditions, customs, and practices associated the Feast of the Epiphany. But it does suffer from one major flaw. The New Testament is silent on the actual number of the Magi who traveled to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king. The Greek text hints that there was more than three. So where did we get the idea that there were three Magi. It is assumed that there were only three Magi from the number of gifts that they presented to the infant Jesus--gold, myrrh, and frankincense. This is pure conjecture. While full of interesting facts about how different countries have celebrated the Feast of Epiphany, this article does not attempt to debunk the myth of three Magi. The next time your church has an Epiphany Star procession, more than three kids can dress as kings and wear robes and crowns. A safer tradition during the COVID-19 pandemic is to have an Epiphany bonfire with the participants wearing face masks and taking other precautions. The participants can maintain a safe distance from each other as well as the bonfire. Christmas trees are traditionally stripped of their ornaments on Twelfth Night and the trees are burned on the second eve of Epiphany. The day after the Western Church's Feast of the Epiphany--January 7--is the Eastern Church's Feast of the Nativity.

Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

It occurs on Jan. 6 every year, the 13th day of the Christmas season. The word "epiphany," from the Greek word epiphania, means appearance or manifestation.

The arrival of these visitors was a sign that the incarnation of God in Christ had been made known and was recognized by the heavens to the whole world, so that even Gentile wise men from the East came to pay him homage. This is an observance of great majesty, solemnity and awe.

An even more ancient Christian celebration than Christmas, Epiphany originally focused on the nativity, God’s incarnation (God made flesh) in the birth of Jesus Christ, and Christ’s baptism. After the late fourth century, as Advent developed as a season of baptismal preparation in addition to Lent, Epiphany became associated with baptism. This is why we see images of the three Magi on many older baptismal fonts. Read More