The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-01-10
Epiphany; or Twe!fth Night, Celebrated
In Foreign Customs and Church Seruice

Epiphany, the time that Jesus
was manifested to the Gentle
world, was celebrated in varying
fashions. last week in Farmville.
There was the traditional church
celebration, re-enactment of a
French custom and the exchange
of gifts on the annual gift-giving
day by those from Spanish-speak-
ing countries.
The Three Kings who came to
babe in Bethlehem did not arrive
at their destination until twelve
days after December Is. That is
why Epiphany is often referred to
as Twelfth Night, and it always
falls on January 6.
AS celebrated in the church. the
coming of the shepherds to see
Jesus on December Is was the
manifestation OF Christ to tbs
Jews.
Feast of Lights
To depict His revelation to the
Gentiles, the Episcopal and Ro-
man Catholic churches celebrate a
service handed down from the
earliest beginnings of the Chris
tian church. In the Episcopal
Church, this service is called the
Feast of Lights"
Here IN Farmville, the annual
celebration was held Sunday
night, Jan. 8. instead of on Fri
day. at the Johns Memorial Epis-
copal Church at p. m. 1t was
produced by the young people of
the Episcopal Church in coopera-
ton with youngsters from the
Farmville Presbyterian Church.
Miss Patsy Lindsey, YPF advisor.
was supervisor
In FarmvilIe
The Feast of Lights depicts the
symbolical handing down of the
light from Christ to the shep-
herds. the Wise Men. the apostles.
saints, bishops and SO on down to
the present day. In the local pag-
cant, Mary and Joseph stand over
the crib of the infant Jesus. Above
them on the altar glows the Jesus
Candle. large white candle.
from which first the shepherds.
then the Wise Men, and SO on,
light their candles Participants
in the pageant carry the lights to
members of the congregation. who.
trad!tionally. carry their lights to
their friends and into their homes.
In this years Feast of Lights,
Mason Hamlet and Lucius Wells
played the part OF Mary and
Joseph. The Wise Men We're Jim
my Johns Johnny Martin and
Donald Hoppe. Johnny Southall.
Tommy Williams and Prestley
Smith took the part Of the shep-
herds. The Twelve Apostles were
represented by candles. Vacelo
Hawkins played Saint Augustine
and Mary Jane Martin was Sair.
Columbia A bishop of the early
American church was played by
Mike Hawkins and Barbara Smith
played the part Of Bishop Gum.
the present Bishop of the Diocese
of Southern Virginia. Alex Holmes
and Southland Brumfield were
Acolytes. Frankie Landlord was
the Crucifer and John c. Calhoun
was the narrator.
The service was accompanied
by a choir of young people from
both churches taking pert. and
Mrs. w. c. Duvall played the
organ.
French Custom
= A French custom. partly severed
now through use from the true
Christian celebration. was Cnsct-
cd Friday in the College Tea Room
when Miss Helen Draper. French
teacher at Longwood College and
q group OF her students ate
.brioche. The 'brioch" is a
special cake eaten only on Epi-
phaily in France. Hidden in it is
. little china figurine. no more
than one-i1alf inch tall, represent
Ing q king. shoe or a chicken.
The cake is served and cut. and
whoever III the group fluids the