Feast of the Epiphany around the World
In many Western Churches, the eve of the feast is celebrated as Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve) on January 5. The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.
Popular Epiphany customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, having one's house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, as well as attending church services. It is customary for Christians in many localities to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve (Twelfth Night), although those in other Christian countries historically remove them on Candlemas, the conclusion of Epiphanytide. According to one seventeenth-century tradition, it is inauspicious to remove Christmas decorations before Epiphany Eve and those who do not remove them on that date have the opportunity to take them down on Candlemas.
Epiphany (holiday) - Wikipedia
Plough Monday is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. It is the first Monday after Epiphany, 6 January. References to Plough Monday date back to the late 15th century. The day before Plough Monday is Plough Sunday, on which a ploughshare is brought into the local Christian church with prayers for the blessing of human labour, tools, as well as the land.
@Irapuato
I LOVE this! Thank you for putting up the video AND the information of how this beautiful feast day is celebrated throughout the world. I am orginally from Spain and I remember fondly the awaiting of the three kings to visit our house as we left our shoes out that night.
We also have the same treat as does Mexico, the rosca de reyes. In it we can find a tiny toy and we always waited in anticipation to see whose piece had that toy in it. It was very nice to read on how others celebrate this most blessed day!
Feliz Dia De Reyes a Todos!
Happy Three Kings day to All!
Pax!
Maria
In Mexico City, the world biggest "Rosca de Reyes":
"La Rosca" - Mexico backt die größte Rosca der Welt
Spain
This celebration is bigger than Christmas. It is called El Dia de Reyes. On January 5, there are parades with floats, the people on the floats are dressed up as the 3 kings and they shower the people with candy. The children write letters to the Magi asking them for gifts. The night before Epiphany, they leave out their shoes and food for the camels. The next morning, they find presents in their shoes
Mexico
Preparations begin 19 days before with posadas. People process to the village square bringing sweets which are used to fill piñatas to be hung on January 6. On this day, the piñatas are burst and all the children are showered with candy and coins. They eat a sweet bread called La Rosca De Reyes.
Ethiopia
Called Timkat - Feast of the Epiphany and is celebrated on January 19. It is a 3 day celebration two weeks after Christmas and commemorates the baptism of Jesus. Special breads are baked.
Switzerland
In Southern Switzerland, on January 5, the 3 kings ride into town and the children wait to be led to a nearby monastery where they and the villagers have food, drinks, and mass.
Poland
On 12th night, or January 6, Poles take small boxes of chalk, gold rings, incense, and a piece of amber in memory of the gifts of the Magi, to be blessed. Once back home, they inscribe K+M+B+ with chalk above every door for protection against illness and misfortune (those letters are the first initials of the 3 Magi). They make a king cake for the celebration.
Germany
Children go from house to house on January 5 caroling and marking with chalk, the year and the 3 kings initials near the entrance of each home. They make Dreikonigskuchen which is their king cake.
Ireland, England, Scotland
Also called "Little Christmas" or "Woman's Christmas" -- In Ireland, as well as England and Scotland, this January 6 is called "12th Night" and is the last opportunity to make merry for the Christmas season. The Yule log is kept burning until Epiphany.
Greece
Also called Fota -- This country celebrates Jesus' baptism on this date. They also bless their boats. One tradition is that a large cross is hurled into the water and brought back by young men who compete to retrieve it. However, in more modern times, they attach a chain to the cross to bring it in; in case no one signs up to jump in the cold water to retrieve it.
Italy
In this country there is the lore of the kindly old witch who makes her annual visit bringing presents by climbing down the chimney on January 5. They eat struffoli (sweet bread) and they wear medieval costumes.
Portugal
Dia Dos Reis -- On January 5, children put their shoes along the window sill filled with carrots and straw for the camels in order to lure the 3 Magi to their homes. The kings leave gifts and sweets.
Sweden, Finland, Iceland
It is called "Day of the Three Kings" or "The 12th Day of Christmas". Businesses are closed.
France
Epiphany is referred to as La Fete de Rois as a tribute to the three kings the holy day celebrates. They prepare special cakes known as king cakes. A ceramic figure is baked inside the cake and whoever finds it is named King or Queen for the day and is rewarded with a paper hat.
www.stpeterslv.org/EpiphanyAroundtheWorld.htm