Epiphany season facts for kids
The Epiphany season is a special time for many Christian churches. It comes right after the Christmas season. This period starts on Epiphany Day and lasts for different lengths of time depending on the church.
On Epiphany Day, churches often use white colors. For the rest of the Epiphany season, green is usually the color. Some fun traditions during this time include singing special songs, chalking the door (writing symbols on doors), and inviting a pastor to bless a home.
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Epiphany in Western Churches
Many Christian churches in the Western world celebrate the Epiphany season. While they all celebrate Epiphany, the exact dates and traditions can be a little different.
Catholic Church
In the Catholic Church, Epiphany is part of the Christmas season. The Christmas season usually ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is the Sunday after Epiphany. Even though it's not a separate season, special prayers are used in Mass during this time.
Some traditional Catholic groups celebrate Epiphany with a special eight-day period, like a mini-season, from January 6th to January 13th. Also, a newer way of celebrating for former Anglicans includes a specific Epiphanytide that lasts until the day before Ash Wednesday.
Other Western Churches
- Moravian Church: The Epiphany season in the Moravian Church lasts until the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. They use white for Epiphany Day and green for the rest of the season.
- Lutheranism: In Lutheranism, Epiphanytide can last until a few Sundays before Shrove Tuesday or until the day before Ash Wednesday.
- Anglicanism: The Church of England has an optional Epiphany season. It starts the evening before Epiphany and ends on the Feast of the Presentation (February 2nd).
- Methodism: In Methodism, the Epiphany season runs from Epiphany Day until Ash Wednesday. White is used for Epiphany Day, the Baptism of the Lord, and the Feast of the Transfiguration. Green is used for the other days.
Epiphany in Eastern Churches
Eastern Christian churches also celebrate Epiphany, but they might call it by a different name or have different traditions.
East Syriac Rite
In the East Syriac Rite, this period is called the Season of Epiphany, or Denha. It usually starts on a Sunday between January 2nd and 6th, or on January 6th itself. This season lasts until the first Sunday of Lent, which starts a bit earlier than in Western Christianity.
During this season, they celebrate several special feast days on Fridays. These include days honoring:
- St. John the Baptist
- Sts. Peter and Paul
- The Evangelists (writers of the Gospels)
- St. Stephen
- Important Greek teachers
- Important Syriac teachers
- The church's patron saint
- A day to remember the dead
Sometimes, if the season is shorter, some of these Friday feasts might be moved to earlier weeks. Also, a special fasting period called the Three Days' Lent happens during this season.
