Epiphany!
Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day or Little Christmas
How Are There More Gifts Under the Tree?
About Epiphany!
Epiphany! The exclamation mark is doing a lot of work here. Historically, this is the day Christ revealed himself to the world, though in practice, it was more of a soft launch for an audience of three elaborately dressed men and two exhausted parents. Our version drops the divinity but keeps the celebration: gather your favorite people, serve a meal with flavors that nod to Persia, India, and Arabia (or at least gesture politely in their direction), and end the evening with a small, surprising gift. It doesn’t need to be meaningful, just fun. You might also borrow a few European customs while you’re at it. Don a crown, become a “star singer,” or cosplay as a wise person of indeterminate geography. Cowboy boots and a bathrobe will do in a pinch. The fit doesn’t matter, only that your heart is full of welcome-to-the-world cheer.
Ways to observe
(A) Low effort
Share a meal of leftovers but add a special dessert to mark the day.
(B) Recommended
Read or share stories about the Magi during dinner, then surprise everyone with a small “thank you” gift hidden under the tree.
(C) High effort
Host a themed dinner featuring dishes from Persia, India, and Arabia. Decorate the table with gold, frankincense, and myrrh-inspired accents, and recount the story of the Magi.
Inspiration
The wise men—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar—have wandered through these pages like dignified party crashers, but today they finally get a day to themselves. Sort of. Epiphany is technically about Christ revealing himself to the world, though the only ones present were his parents and three mysteriously overdressed foreigners. Since impersonating Christ tends to raise eyebrows, we turn instead to our Magi friends from Persia, India, and Arabia, conveniently far-off lands that lend themselves to a bit of festive, respectful cosplay. Hence the rebrand: Epiphany!
Over time, their story has bloomed into a global circuit of customs. Spaniards host royal parades and fill children’s shoes with sweets; the French bake a trinket into a pastry and crown whoever nearly breaks a tooth on it; and in Italy, a kindly witch named La Befana shows up with gifts and a hankering to swat naughty kids with her broom. These traditions, however varied, all mark the same pivotal moment in Christian theology. (Side note: I would definitely watch a romantic comedy about La Befana and her three wise suitors.) If you're hosting a feast today in honor of these illustrious travelers, try to span a few regions. And be sure to spare a thought for the fourth, often overlooked guest from the foggy plains of Blandonia (near Indiana, I’ve heard), where seasoning is frowned upon and the spice rack consists entirely of salt.
Adornments
Watch
Ben-Hur (1959)
A sweeping epic that begins and ends with scenes from the life of Christ, Ben-Hur follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince wrongfully enslaved by the Romans, on a journey of betrayal, revenge, and eventual spiritual awakening.
Listen
The First Noël (Traditional)
This gentle hymn unfolds the Nativity story through simple verses, moving from the shepherds’ astonishment to the three wise men guided by the Eastern star.
March of the Kings (Traditional)
A lively Provençal folk tune (dating back to the 13th century) that has become a cherished instrumental carol in France.
Three Kings (from Persian Lands Afar) (Traditional)
A choral art-song composed in 1856 by German composer Peter Cornelius. Frequently performed as an Epiphany anthem in Anglican services and classical concert settings.
Read
The Three Kings by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A narrative poem by the famed American poet, recounting the journey of the Wise Men, dignified travelers riding by night, guided by a “beautiful, wonderful star.”
Eat
Epiphany Tart
A showpiece from Victorian England’s Twelfth Night traditions. This grand jam tart is assembled in the shape of a six-pointed star, its pastry lattice dividing the surface into 13 jewel-toned sections.