1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Rogier van der Weyden (Flemish painter, 1400-1464) Adoration of the Magi

1423 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Gentile da Fabriano original name Niccolo Di Giovanni Di Massio (Italian artist, c 1370-1427) Adoration of the Magi Detail 1423

January 6 is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. Epiphany also means "a revealing scene or moment," & epiphany may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being."

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts. 

In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the Magi often number 12. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is probably linked to Isaiah 60:1–6, which refers to "kings [coming] to the brightness of your dawn" bearing "gold & frankincense." Further identification of the Magi with kings may be due to Psalm 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him."

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Paolo Uccello born Paolo di Dono as (Italian artist, from 1397 to 1475) Detail Adoration of the Magi (Quarate predella)

In Mark 15:23, Jesus is offered wine with myrrh before his crucifixion, because it was then believed to be a painkiller. Myrrh was also used at that time used in oil used for anointing kings, which is significant given that the Magi had come looking for the king of the Jews.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 records that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts on the day of Thr Epiphany, January 6th

1562 The Adoration of the Magi

1562 Jacopo Bassano (Italian painter, 1510-1592) The Adoration of the Magi

While it’s difficult to tie the Magi to any specific people, the very brief descriptions of them in the Gospel of Matthew do track with understandings of the world at the time the Gospel was written, thought to be sometime between 70 CE & 85 CE.

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

 

1500s The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (Italian, 1518-1594),  Adoration of the Magi

The Magi have come to be known as "wise men." Their orientation was much more focused on a science kind of religious revelation. The shepherds were notified immediately after Jesus' birth by angels. Looking to a star is “very much in keeping with the religious tradition of this place in time of looking to the heavens, the stars, & the planets for information about the gods’ wishes & doings, & some stars or planets were identified with God,” says Dr. Kristin Swenson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Geertgen tot Sint Jans (Early Netherlandish painter, c 1465–c 1495), Adoration of the Magi

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts. 

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Andrea Mantegna (Italian painter, c 1431–1506) Adoration of the Magi

Dr. Kristin Swenson, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that Myrrh was also used at that time used in oil used for anointing kings, which is significant given that the Magi had come looking for the king of the Jews.

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.

 

1330 The Adoration of the Magi

Master AB German School Adoration of the Magic 1530

The gifts from these men from the East are noted to have brought impressive gifts to the new baby Jesus. Then, like now, gold represented wealth & power. Frankincense was a type of incense & perfume. Myrrh is the “outlier,” according to Dr. Kristin Swenson, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. It’s been used as a perfume & in ancient Egypt, in embalming processes, & which some Christians have interpreted as foreshadowing Jesus’s death. 

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

1433 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Fra Angelico (Italian painter, 1387-1455) Adoration of the Magi 1433

In the Bible, Matthew’s Gospel says soon after Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, ruled by the Roman King Herod, “some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem & asked, "Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the East, & we have come to worship him.'” According to the Gospel, the men had followed a star to the house where Jesus & Mary were & presented gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh.

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

"The light of the righteous shines brightly." Proverbs 13:9

This week, my closest friend from church died unexpectedly. "The light of the righteous shines brightly." Proverbs 13:9.  Kathy Waugh's life was filled with the light of a beautiful heart...one touched by the grace of God's love. These posts honor her. 

FROM JESUS' BIRTH ON DEC. 25th THRU EPIPHANY EVE ON JAN. 5th, SEVERAL POSTS WILL  WILL FOCUS ON ANGELS TELLING THE SHEPHERDS OF THE NEWBORN & THEIR VISITING THE NATIVITY SCENE

FROM JAN. 6th EPIPHANY UNTIL FEB. 1st , SEVERAL POSTS WILL FOCUS ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE 3 MAGI & THEIR VISTING THE NATIVITY SCENE 

FROM FEB. 2nd UNTIL ASH WEDNESDAY ON FEB. 14th, SEVERAL POSTS WILL FOCUS ON MARY & BABY JESUS VISITING THE TEMPLE  

FROM FEB. 14th ON, SEVERAL POSTS WILL FOCUS ON LENT & EASTER

12th Night - Just a Bit of English Literature

First Folio William Shakespeare wrote the play Twelfth Night, circa 1601.

William Shakespeare wrote a play called Twelfth Night, Or What You Will, but it did not deal with the traditional religious holiday. Steve Sohmertells us that Shakespeare wrote Twelth Night for two performances: (1) on Twelfth Night 1602 Gregorian, and (2) on Candlemas 2 February Julian. The title 'Or What You Will' refers to Queen Elizabeth's decision to retain England's Old Julian calendar (27 Dec Julian = 6 Jan Gregorian).

Those interested in Elizabethan Christmas - Twelfth Night customs in literature might be interested in the details imparted in Steve Roth's “Hamlet as The Christmas Prince: Certain Speculations on Hamlet, the Calendar, Revels, and Misrule” in Early Modern Literary Studies 7.3 (January, 2002). Among cited sources of this article, one might read, Popular and Popish Superstitions and Customs On Saints’-Days and Holy-Days in Germany and Other Papist Lands A. D. 1553, Being the Fourth Booke of “The Popish Kingdome, or reigne of Anitchrist, written in Latine verse by Thomas Naogeorgus (or Kirchmaier), and englyshed by Barnabe Googe. . . Anno 1570.

Ben Jonson's The Masque of Blackness was performed on 6 January 1605 at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. It was originally entitled The Twelvth Nights Revells. The accompanying Masque, The Masque of Beauty was performed in the same court the Sunday night after the Twelfth Night in 1608.

Robert Herrick's(1591-1674)poem Twelfe-Night, or King and Queene, published in 1648, describes the election of king and queen by bean and pea in a plum cake, and the homage done to them by the draining of wassail bowls of "lamb's-wool", a drink of sugar, nutmeg, ginger and ale.

Twelfth Night: or, King and Queen

NOW, now the mirth comes
With the cake full of plums,
Where bean's the king of the sport here ;
Beside we must know,
The pea also
Must revel, as queen, in the court here.

Begin then to choose,
This night as ye use,
Who shall for the present delight here,
Be a king by the lot,
And who shall not
Be Twelfth-day queen for the night here.

Which known, let us make
Joy-sops with the cake ;
And let not a man then be seen here,
Who unurg'd will not drink
To the base from the brink
A health to the king and queen here.

Next crown a bowl full
With gentle lamb's wool :
Add sugar, nutmeg, and ginger,
With store of ale too ;
And thus ye must do
To make the wassail a swinger.

Give then to the king
And queen wassailing :
And though with ale ye be whet here,
Yet part from hence
As free from offence
As when ye innocent met here.

Charles Dickens' 1843 A Christmas Carol briefly mentions Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present visiting a children's Twelfth Night party. "It was a long night, if it were only a night; but Scrooge had his doubts of this, because the Christmas Holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together. It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older. Scrooge had observed this change, but never spoke of it, until they left a children's Twelfth Night party, when, looking at the Spirit as they stood together in an open place, he noticed that its hair was grey."

In Chapter 6 of Harrison Ainsworth's 1858 novel Mervyn Clitheroe, the eponymous hero is elected King of festivities at the Twelfth Night celebrations held in Tom Shakeshaft's barn, by receiving the slice of plum cake containing the bean; his companion Cissy obtains the pea and becomes queen, and they are seated together in a high corner to view the proceedings. The distribution has been rigged to prevent another person gaining the role. The festivities include country dances, and the introduction of a "Fool Plough", a plough decked with ribands brought into the barn by a dozen mummers together with a grotesque "Old Bessie" (played by a man) and a Fool dressed in animal skins with a fool's hat. The mummers carry wooden swords and perform revelries. The scene in the novel is illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"). In the course of the evening, the fool's antics cause a fight to break out, but Mervyn restores order. Three bowls of gin punch are disposed of, and at eleven o'clock the young men make the necessary arrangements to see the young ladies safely home across the fields.

January 6th - Epiphany & The Adoration of the Magi 1514

Workshop of Gerard David (Netherlandish, ca. 1460–1523), Adoration of the Magi, ca. 1514.

January 6 is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. Epiphany also means "a revealing scene or moment," & epiphany may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being."

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts. 

In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the Magi often number 12. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is probably linked to Isaiah 60:1–6, which refers to "kings [coming] to the brightness of your dawn" bearing "gold & frankincense." Further identification of the Magi with kings may be due to Psalm 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him."

Epiphany, also called Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings’ Day, is a Christian holiday celebrated Twelve days after Christmas, typically on January 6. It is also celebrated on January 19 for those Orthodox Churches who have Christmas on January 7.  Many traditions change over time & differ from country to country.

In western churches, the holiday celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men, sometimes called the Three Kings, in Bethleham & their visit to honor the "newborn king," the baby Jesus. It also begins the liturgical season of Epiphanytide, which the season after Christmas time. 

For eastern (Orthodox) churches, Epiphany marks the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The word "epiphany" comes from the Greek epiphaneia which means "manifestation". The periods of Jesus' life that are revisited during the holiday are his birth & baptism. These are the first 2 times his divine powers manifested.

Many countries celebrate Epiphany with:

special pastries,

singing,

chalking the door to bless the house,

consuming Three Kings Cake,

winter swimming, &

attending church services

Some children receive their presents on this day as well, signifying the gifts given to the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. 

It is also customary for many Christians to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve, Twelfth Night. According to tradition, those who fail to remove their Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night must leave them untouched until Candlemas, the 2nd & last opportunity to remove them. If one forgets to remove them during Candlemas as well, they will have bad luck.

Boston Public Library

Twelfth Night (also known as Epiphany Eve)

 
The Evening's Chosen "King" Drinks at a Twelfth Night Feast. c 1645, by Jacob Jordaens

Twelfth Night (also known as Epiphany Eve) is a Christian festival on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Different traditions mark the date of Twelfth Night as either 5 January or 6 January, depending on whether the counting begins on Christmas Day or 26 December.

A superstition in some English-speaking countries suggests it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night. Other traditional customs in England include eating king cake, singing Christmas carols, chalking the door, having one's house blessed, merrymaking, & attending church services.

In 567 the Council of Tours proclaimed that the entire period between Christmas & Epiphany should be considered part of the celebration, creating what became known as the twelve days of Christmas, or what the English called Christmastide. On the last of the twelve days, called Twelfth Night, various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities.

The Church of England, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, celebrates Twelfth Night on the 5th & "refers to the night before Epiphany, the day when the nativity story tells us that the wise men visited the infant Jesus."

In 567 A.D, the Council of Tours "proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred & festive season, & established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast." Christopher Hill, as well as William J. Federer, states that this was done to solve the "administrative problem for the Roman Empire as it tried to coordinate the solar Julian calendar with the lunar calendars of its provinces in the east."

In medieval & Tudor England, Candlemas traditionally marked the end of the Christmas season, although later, Twelfth Night came to signal the end of Christmastide, with a new but related season of Epiphanytide running until Candlemas. A popular Twelfth Night tradition was to have a bean & pea hidden inside a Twelfth-night cake; the "man who finds the bean in his slice of cake becomes King for the night while the lady who finds a pea in her slice of cake becomes Queen for the night." 

Food & drink are the center of the British celebrations in modern times. All of the most traditional ones go back many centuries. The punch called wassail is consumed especially on Twelfth Night & throughout Christmas time, especially in the UK.

William Shakespeare wrote the play Twelfth Night, circa 1601. It is unknown whether Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, or What You Will was written to be performed as a Twelfth Night entertainment. The earliest known performance took place at Middle Temple Hall, one of the Inns of Court, on Candlemas night, 2 February 1602. The play has many elements that are reversed, in the tradition of Twelfth Night, such as a woman Viola dressing as a man, & a servant Malvolio imagining that he can become a nobleman.

In colonial America, a Christmas wreath was left up on the front door of each home. When taken down at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, any edible portions would be consumed with the other foods of a feast. The same held true in the 19th–20th centuries with fruits adorning Christmas trees. 

England's 12th Night Characters

During the late 1700s, sets of characters were available to purchase from enterprising stationers.

Traditionally, Twelfth Night is a Christian holiday, celebrated on January 5. It marks the twelfth & final night of the Christmas season & the coming of Epiphany. Contrary to popular belief, Christmas is not just December 25. That is only the first day of Christmas & it includes the eleven days that follow. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day (December 25) & end on Epiphany (January 6).

During the Middle Ages, Christmas was a time of continuous feasting & merriment, which climaxed on Twelfth Night. The days & nights are counted separately. Therefore, the height of celebration became the night before, or eve, of Epiphany. The twelve day count actually begins with the night of December 25, the "first night." The day of December 26 is the "first day," the night of December 26 is the "second night," & so on. The Twelfth Night is the night before Epiphany, & the twelfth day is Epiphany itself.

Food & drink are central in the celebrations of this holiday. The punch, called wassail, is consumed during Christmastime, but especially on Twelfth Night. Around the world, special pastries, such as the tortell & king cake, are baked on Twelfth Night. They are eaten the following day for the Feast of the Epiphany celebrations. Some people chalk their doors indicating the year & the initials of the 3 Kings, Caspar, Malchior, & Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat “May Christ bless the house. as a way of blessing their home. 

There is also a popular belief that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night, though some may leave them up until Candlemas. Other popular Twelfth Night customs include singing Christmas carols, having one's house blessed, merrymaking, as well as attending church services. 

In some countries, Twelfth Night & Epiphany mark the start of the Carnival season. For Carnival in the United States, think about New Orleans, where it lasts through Mardi Gras Day.

Boston Public Library

In the late 17C, the English diarist Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) described his enjoyment of a new custom whereby Twelfth Night merrymakers drew slips of paper from a hat on which were written the names of characters found at the bean king's court. They were expected to impersonate this character for the rest of the evening. In this way everyone present at the celebration, not just the king & queen, got into the act. 

By the end of the 18C this innovation had almost completely replaced the earlier custom of planting a bean & a pea inside the Twelfth Night cake. In fact, it became so popular with ordinary folk that, by the end of the 18C, shops sold packets of cards & sheets of paper with names & drawings of characters printed on them. The absurd names given to these characters served to describe their exaggerated personalities. Examples included Sir Tunbelly Clumsy, Sir Gregory Goose, & Miss Fanny Fanciful.

One anonymous writer in the Universal Magazine of 1774 wrote: "I went to a friend's house in the country to partake of some of those innocent pleasures that constitute a Merry Christmas; I did not return until I had been present at drawing King and Queen, and eaten a slice of the Twelfth Cake.....A noble cake was produced, and two bowls, containing the fortunate chances for the different sexes. Our host filled up the tickets; the whole company, except for the King and Queen, were to be ministers of state, maids of honour, or ladies of the bedchamber. Our kind host and hostess, whether by accident or design, became King and Queen. According to Twelfth Day law, each party is to support their character until midnight."

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