Epiphany | Definition, Holiday, Origin, & Observances - Britannica

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Ask Anything Also known as: Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany, Three Kings’ Day(Show More) Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 11, 2026 •History Contents Ask Anything

Top Questions

What is Epiphany?

Epiphany is a Christian holiday primarily commemorating the Magi’s visit to the baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Eastern traditions, which usually call the holiday Theophany, focus on Jesus’ baptism, seen as the manifestation of Christ as both fully human and fully divine. Western traditions focus on the Magi’s visit, seen as the first manifestation of Christ as savior of Gentiles as well as Jews. Epiphany is among the church’s oldest and most important feasts, and marks the formal end of the Christmas season.

What does the name Epiphany mean?

The name Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “appearance” or “manifestation.” It refers to the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (during the visit of the non-Jewish Magi) as the savior of the world. The holiday is also called the Feast of Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings’ Day.

When is Epiphany?

Epiphany is observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Christians of other Western traditions. Eastern traditions that follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar celebrate Epiphany on January 19, since their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.

How is Epiphany celebrated?

In many countries, Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries, and children often receive small gifts in their shoes in honor of the Magi’s gifts to the baby Jesus. In Eastern traditions, baptism is common during Epiphany, and houses may be blessed with holy water.

What is the origin of Epiphany?

Epiphany originated in the Eastern church and at first included a celebration of Jesus’ birth. By 354 ce Jesus’ birth was being celebrated in Rome on December 25, and later in the 4th century the church in Rome began celebrating Epiphany separately on January 6.

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Epiphany, (from Greek epiphaneia, “manifestation”), Christian holiday commemorating the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his first miracle, at Cana in Galilee. Epiphany is one of the three principal and oldest festival days of the Christian church (the other two are Easter and Christmas). Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Western churches observe the feast on January 6, while some Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Theophany on January 19, since their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.

History

The festival originated in the Eastern church, where it at first commemorated three manifestations of Christ: his birth, his baptism, and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). In the latter half of the 4th century Eastern and Western churches adopted each other’s Incarnation festival, thus establishing the 12-day celebration from Christmas to Epiphany. By 354 Christ’s birth was being celebrated on December 25 (Christmas) in Rome, which later began celebrating Epiphany on January 6. In the Western church the festival primarily commemorates the visit by the Magi to the infant Jesus, which is seen as evidence that Christ, the Jewish Messiah, came also for the salvation of Gentiles. In the East it primarily commemorates the baptism of Jesus and celebrates the revelation that the incarnate Christ was both fully God and fully human. The Eastern feast thus includes special liturgical ceremonies of the blessing of waters and the ministration of baptism.

Traditions

In the West the time between December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, and the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. On Twelfth Night (January 5) many families leave out hay, carrots, and water for the Magi’s camels, and on the next day children awake to find small gifts in their shoes in honor of the Magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus. Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries, known as king cake, in many countries, and the holiday also has a number of traditions involving water as a reflection of Jesus’ baptism, including the blessing of houses with holy water. Given that the day marks the formal end of the Christmas season, some people and churches do not take down their crèches and Christmas trees until after Epiphany.

Also called: Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings’ Day (Show more) Related Topics: Jesus church year king cake holy days of obligation Twelve Days of Christmas (Show more) See all related content Britannica Quiz Pop Quiz: 19 Things to Know About Christianity

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany, or Timket, with a major festival that begins the night before, on Ketera (January 18). In honor of Christ’s baptism, celebrants escort a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, a tabot, to a local body of water with great ceremony. The night is spent in prayer and hymn services. The following morning the congregation is blessed with holy water, and the tabot is brought back to its church in a colorful procession.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.