In Greek dominated Egypt under the Ptolemaic dynasty, the night between the 5th and the 6th of January was the feast of the birth of the sun god Aion being born by the virgin Kore. During the following day, people would get water from the Nile which was reputed to be healing water on that day.
In Rome, the word epiphany came to mean the ascension of the Emperor to God, starting with Julius Caesar on January 10th when he crossed the Rubicon. In time, it became synonymous with Advent, the arrival of an emperor in a city of the realm. The Eastern Church usurped the name and the feast, and it was only later exported into the Western Church.
Saint Matthew’s is the only Evangel that mentions the Magi at all, and he doesn’t give a number, either. In time, they became three (one for each gift), and they started several adventurous journeys. One journey was undertaken by their dead bodies, but that is another story. Another journey is their evolution from Magi to Kings. This started in the 3rd century with a sideline by a commentator of the bible who attributed them to be dressed like kings.
From there it was a short step for the Magi to become Kings. In one story, they became the metaphor for man’s ages, with an old, a middle aged, and a youthful king. In the medieval world, they came to represent the three (known) continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. And they acquired names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They got the accolade Saint at some point or other as well.
The name Epiphany got all but lost in Europe as it was renamed by the people the Day of the Three Kings. The kings ride into the towns of Italy and Southern Switzerland on the evening of the 5th of January. In the village of Bigorio in the Capriasca Valley, the children await the arrival of the cavalcade to lead them to the nearby monastery of the capuchin monks. There, the villagers and the children are treated with food and hot drinks before a late mass is being read in the little chapel.
North of the Alps that day, people start the day eating a Three Kings’ Cake, sweet bread formed into a crown with a plastic figure hidden in one of the pieces. The person who finds the plastic in his piece is crowned king for the day. This tradition is quite recent, starting only after the Second World War, but what Saint Nicolas and Saint Befana could do for the toy industry, the three saintly kings could do for the bakers, obviously.
The cake tradition has spread to other countries, like Spain and Mexico. The Spanish bakers have added a further feature to the cake; beside the plastic figure there is also a bean hidden in the cake. The person who gets the bean has to pay for the cake.
In the German speaking parts of Europe the Star Singers are also out and about on this day. Usually dressed as kings, the singers go from house to house carrying a star formed lantern. In houses where they are let in, they sing or pray and mark the entrance with the three letters CMB (Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar; reads as ‘Christus mansionem benedicat’ may Christ bless this housing, too). For their trouble they receive money which is collected for the poor of the parish.
This is all a matter of symbolism, the Greek word explains it all. Very interesting article Lucas. Thank you my friend.
Excellent article!!
Really interesting.
Thanks,
Inna
Well written and interesting Lucas.