FOG BLOG HOLIDAY LOG: THE EPIPHANY / LITTLE CHRISTMAS IS TOMORROW JAN. 6TH:

FOG BLOG HOLIDAY LOG: THE EPIPHANY OR LITTLE CHRISTMAS OR SOMETIMES CALLED 3 KINGS DAY IS CELEBRATED THE DAY OF JANUARY 6TH, SOME CELEBRATE ON THE 5TH AND UKRANIAN AND RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS IS ON THE 7TH. THE EPIPHANY , 3 KINGS OR LITTLE CHRISTMAS IS THE DAY THAT THE 3 KINGS ARRIVED TO HONOUR OUR LORD JESUS AS THE BABE BORN IN BETHLEHEM AND WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN FOILING HERROD'S PLANS TO KILL JESUS BY GOING HOME A DIFFERENT WAY AS TO NOT LET HERROD KNOW OF HIS WHEREABOUTS...........When is Epiphany?

Though overshadowed by falling so soon after Christmas, Epiphany is one of the three major Christian celebrations along with Christmas and Easter.

It is always celebrated on January 6th and commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the Magi or the three wise men. In some countries, it may be known as 'Three Kings Day'.

History of Epiphany

Interestingly, the bible doesn't mention how many wise men there were - just that three gifts were given and that they came from the east.

The common consensus is that there were between two and twenty wise men. They were likely to have been Zoroastrian Priests. It wasn't until about 500AD that three was accepted to be the standard number of wise men - the reasoning simply due to the number of gifts.

To further complicate matters, the wise men may not even have been men or wise. In 2004, a report by the general synod of the church of England concluded that 'magi' gives no indication as to number, or gender, or even to the level of wisdom.

The distinct lack of Biblical detail hasn't stopped the Magi being counted, coronated and christened - the traditional names of the threes kings are Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, who are said to represent Europe, Arabia and Africa respectively.