Epiphany

Epiphany in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

United Kingdom	2018	2019	2020
Epiphany	Saturday 6th January	Sunday 6th January	Monday 6th January

Epiphany - What is Epiphany and When is it Celebrated?

Epiphany is a Christmas Holiday that celebrates the coming of the Three Kings.

Christmas Traditions

Today, the Christmas Holiday is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike, but originally it was a celebration of the birth of Christ. Since the Gospels place Christ's birth at night, Christmas Eve is traditionally celebrated with a midnight mass or church service. To many families, Christmas Eve is the most important religious night of the Christmas Holiday and Christmas morning is about celebrating the gift of God's coming by gift-giving; although some traditions save gift-giving for Epiphany which celebrates the coming of the Three Kings with gifts for Jesus.

All About Epiphany

Epiphany is a celebration of the coming of the Magi, or Three Kings, to adore Jesus and is also known as Three Kings Day and the 12th Day of Christmas, and falls after Christmas. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning manifestation. It is celebrated in January when Jesus's divinity was beheld by the Three Kings. In Eastern churches Epiphany was a celebration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist and is not related to the Christmas Holiday.

When is Three Kings Day Celebrated?

The Christmas nativity scene typically includes shepherds and Three Wise-Men. But the Three Kings wouldn't have arrived to pay respects to baby Jesus until days after his birth. Their arrival is celebrated on January 6th after the other Christmas Holiday celebrations. It is celebrated as the 12th day of Christmas which is why it falls on January 6th. In Eastern churches the baptism of Christ was originally celebrated on January 19th but has been moved to the sixth, making it one aspect of the same holiday. Now, you know all about Three Kings Day and it's connection to the Christmas Holiday.