By the fourth century it had come to rank with Easter and Pentecost as one of the three great festivals of the Eastern Church, and its vigil was a day commonly chosen for baptism of converts. Epiphany was first adopted in the Western Church in Southern Gaul. There by the middle of the fourth century, it was kept as a festival separate from Christmas. In Rome it became instead a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Magi are seen as representative of all the non-Jews to whom Christ came.
Frankincense is, of course, incense, and myrrh is a spice used in embalming the dead.
Sexagesima is approximately 60 days before Easter, Quinquagesima , the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, is 50 days before Easter. The last day of the Epiphany season and the day immediately before 'Ash Wednesday'. Shrove, meaning the 'shriving' or stripping of one's sins by making confession and receiving absolution before the beginning of Lent. We observe Lent by abstaining from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting more time than usual to religious exercises, all of which are summed up in the invitation of the Penitential Order for Ash Wednesday. During mass, singing of the Gloria Patri is omitted.