“Epiphany Day” is January 6—yesterday; Epiphany Sunday was last Sunday (—to celebrate before rather than afterwards—I suppose.) Epiphany has different meanings (1) in religious matters, Epiphany Day celebrates the traditional arrival of The Three Wise Men; the understanding of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. (2) in current vernacular, and in literature, epiphany generally refers to a visionary moment when a character has a sudden insight—like a flash of lightning on a dark night-–that changes their understanding of themselves or their comprehension of the world.
Many Christians keep their Christmas Decorations, lights, songs, and activities going until Epiphany Day. So, if you were puzzled by what appeared to be laziness, or indifference in your neighbors, fear not. They could be still celebrating! I once had a friend whose military husband was deployed during Christmas. She not only kept Christmas decorations up past Epiphany Day, but also kept them up through St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Holy Week and Easter—adding appropriate adornments for each new celebration day—until he came home to celebrate with her. So, I try to go easy on those who are not wed to a precise time to put away decorations.
Now is a good time to lighten up on the “how,” and the “when,” of Christian celebrations, and focus on the “Why.” In truth, no one knows the precise date of any of these; the birth of Jesus (we celebrate the birth of Jesus, not his birthday), the arrival of the Three Wise Men, nor even the death and resurrection of Jesus. Precise times/dates are not that important; more important is “Why.” Across Christian traditions—in a manner of speaking—the season of Epiphany (depending on which tradition) spans from January 6 to Easter). In my Faith Tradition, United Methodist, Epiphany lasts until January 6, Twelfth Night.
The ‘Why” of celebrating Epiphany Day is to recognize Jesus’ entry into the Human Condition. He is recognized and inducted into traditional rites of human beings, specifically, the race into which he was born. He is recognized as the expected messiah—one who accomplishes the vision of God bringing hope to the nations. As Alexander Pope wrote in his poem, An Essay on Man, Hope Springs Eternal in the human heart. It is right and a good thing to hold on to hope, and celebrate hope, as in Epiphany Day.
Literature takes a cue from epiphany, in the many references to a character or such, finding insight, or a new vision, or a revelation. I think it is fair to say that Scarlett O’Hara’s famous quote from Gone With The Wind, is something of an epiphany—if a twisted one; As God is my witness I will never go hungry again! No nor any of my folk! If I have to lie, cheat. steal or kill I will never go hungry again!
An epiphany dear to me is John Wesley’s account of his Aldersgate Experience, on May 24, 1738; In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. (from John Wesley’s Journal).
John Wesley’s moment of enlightenment is bizarre to me. How could one become that inspired by hearing some unnamed person read (Martin) Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans!? How boring can it get, hearing a theological treatise read at the end of a long day!? and Yet! Dramatic inspiration arose from that unlikely moment. I say it was an epiphany! So, take heart! A personal epiphany need not happen in a mountain-top ecstatic experience, or in some mystical moment. More likely, it comes unexpectedly and can be just as genuine!