On the 6th of January, the Catholic Church celebrates Epiphany, the appearance of Jesus Christ.Baptism of Jesus Christ was celebrated on the 6th of January back in the 2nd century. People claimed that Jesus become the true Son of God after he had been baptized. Egyptians also celebrated this day: it was the Day of Nile’s Water in Egypt.
Since the beginning of the 4th century, the 6th of January was a day of liturgical celebration and this habit quickly spread first to the east then to the west. Among Christians – between A.D. 312 and 325 – the 6th of January was a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, his baptism, the visit of the three kings (three wise men) and the wedding at Cana.
In Hungary, a number of folk traditions are related to this day. On the 6th of January, people lit the candles of the Christmas tree again, they share food with the poor, they set the tree on fire and they keep only one branch of it against the evil spirits.
The day Epiphany is a very important celebration in the Catholic Church, since this is the day when the period of house hallowing starts.
Source: www.debreceninap.hu
Photo: www.cultura.hu
