The daily Gate City., 1914-01-05
ABOUT IT'S CELEBRATION
Claimed That This Feast Was lnsti.
tuted In the Christian Church
in the Fourth
Century.

VIII pe Haue OF the day IN many coun-
tries and localities where they hoid
old memories dear, or where in rev-
erence and simplicity are held the
striking events in the history OF the
Son OF God, the Savior of the world
1t is a festival, otherwise called the
manifestation of Christ to the Cen
tiles, and is so universally observed In
honor of the appearance of our Savior
to the three magi. or wise men, who
came to adore and bring Him presents.
In Germany this feast is called, tile
day of the holy three kings, the
Greeks term 1t theopathy, or appear
ance of God.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her king,
And every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
According to accepted authority the
feast of Epiphany or Twelfth night,
was instituted in the Christian church
during the fourth century. In Greek
as intimated above, the word Epiph.
any means manifestation or appear
ance, and twelve days after Christmas
Its observance commentaries the
manifestation of our Savior to the
Gentiles on three different occasions:
First. when the star guided the magi
or wise men to the cradle of the bless
led infant; second in His baptism.
when voice from heaven proclaimed
Him the Son of God, and the third In
the Rarriage at Cara, when He began
His miracles by changing water into
wine.
1t Is said that in the Greek church
this day is the next important to
Easter and is sacredly kept The
baptism OF Jesus is the leading event
lof Epiphany to them and is celebrat.
ed by what is known as the blessing
of the waters" and even to this day
/ the practice is carried out with no
little ceremony and some risks to the
health of the devout people who, If
ter the clergy have blessed the lev
rivers frequently plunge into It's freez-
ing waters. This usually results III
illness at least and frequently In
death.
/ It is claimed that the first mention
OF the day as feast occurs in the
writings of Clement of Alexandria,
who fourished during the second cen.
tury. Again in the fourth century
mention is made OF Epiphany being
Fept by the Gauls as a separate fes.
tlval from Christmas.
Pagan countries and some localities
claiming to be civilized and at least
partially christianized, celebrate the
day in form but not in spirit. In italy
the word Epiphany was corrupted into
Beffana, and from the account we have
Iof this manner of celebrating the day
the word might have been corrupted
into Buffoony.
The celebration In Madrid Ia a
trayesty on the day with the sacred.
ness left out. A crowd of men go
about the streets blowing horns and
crying out that they are looking for
the wise kings. The first quietly dis.
Iosed man they meet is seized and a
mule collar Is thrown about his neck
end bells are attached to his body.
He is then made to carry ladder
/ through the streets and commanded to
halt at the different entrances to the
] city and place the ladder against a
fence or house and climb up to see
whether or not he can see the visa
rnen
/ England has always celebrated
Twelfth night in vigorous fashion and
even today that country makes merry
on this particular night The day is
mot however without q reverential re-
Eigious ceremony, for it is customary
for the king to make an offering that
day at the Royal Chapel ST. James.
which is done in memory OF the magi's
offerings and is usually carried out by
the king himself who comes to chanel
fVringing gifts OF gold, frankincense
and myrrh Last year both King
George and Queen Mary went to the
chapel with several officers. While
the offertory sentences were being
read the sovereigns laid three purses
ion the aims dish, which was in turn
set upon the altar The revels held
on Twelfth night in England have
heen much written about. 1t is cele.
brated everywhere, In the homes, In
charitable institutions and on the
Streets. The Twelfth night cake is an
Old established custom and is used ia
determine who is to be the king of the
feast. The bean, the bean: who's
got the beam" A bean or silver coir
Is put in.o the dough before the cake
is baked At the festival the cake f.
lcut into slices and passed around to