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CV NEWS FEED // Epiphany, or the day celebrating the Magi’s greeting of the Child Jesus, is celebrated Jan. 6 by Catholics around the world in various ways.
Catholics can receive a special home blessing on or around Epiphany, which can be performed by an adult member of the household or a priest. Many parishes distribute blessed chalk and blessed Epiphany water.
The blessing uses chalk to inscribe the year, as well as the initials of the Wise Men, over the lintel of the front door, so that this year’s inscription will be 20 + C + M + B + 25.
The parish website for Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Grove City, Ohio, explains that the plus sign represents the cross and the letters have two meanings.
“They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar,” the site reads. “They are also the first letters of the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, ‘May Christ bless the house.’”
Besides the annual blessing, celebrations differ in various parts of the world. According to the AESU, Spanish-speaking countries often exchange gifts on Epiphany instead of Christmas, and children leave their shoes out for gifts. They also put out grass and salt for the Magi’s camels to eat.
Spanish-speaking countries also celebrate with the Three Kings’ bread, rosca de reyes, which contains a little figurine of the baby Jesus. Whoever finds baby Jesus has to host the party for Candlemas, celebrated on Feb. 2. Other countries also have a special bread or cake to commemorate the Three Kings.
BBC reports that in Prague, there is a Three Kings’ Day parade where men ride through the city on camels. Others take a frigid plunge into the Vltava River to celebrate the feast.
As Epiphany marks the 12th day of Christmas, many Christians and Catholics take down their Christmas decorations this day. Others wait until Feb. 2 for Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
