The Feast of Epipháneia
The following from Sharon Blackie. The Feast of Epiphany is typically celebrated around the 6th of January and speaks to “seeing the light.” I like this because it relates to the Earth at perihelion when we are closest to the Sun…
“The Epiphany took its name from the Greek word epipháneia, which refers to a god’s physical manifestation or revelation to mortals. It’s associated with another Greek word, theophany (theophaneia), which refers to an encounter with a deity in which it reveals itself in a tangible form. In non-religious usage, epiphanies are powerful internal changes caused by sudden revelation. At Epiphany, then, I’m consciously walking through the world looking for revelation, and for the light in which that revelation might show itself.
A wonderful Italian character called La Befana, she’s an old woman who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve, just as Father Christmas does on Christmas Eve in other parts of Europe. She’s usually depicted as a hag riding a broomstick; like Father Christmas, our glorious Grandmother Epiphany is covered in soot, because she slips down the chimney of a house to enter it and leave her presents. Some folklore describes her sweeping the floors with her broom before she leaves the house, and in so doing she sweeps away the troubles of the past year. In other traditions, it’s said that she sweeps away the troubles of the past year for the entire country, as she flies through the air on her broomstick. The Christian story of her origins which links her with Epiphany tells us that La Befana was sweeping her floor when she noticed a bright star in the night sky. Soon afterwards the Three Kings paid her a visit; they were lost and asked her for directions. They told her that they were following the star to bring gifts honouring a baby who would be found in Bethlehem. La Befana didn’t go with them on their journey, because she felt that she couldn’t leave her work unfinished (and don’t we all know that feeling ...). But after they’d left, she was sorry and changed her mind. She ran after them with her broom and a basket of gifts for the holy baby, but she couldn’t catch up with them. It’s said that La Befana is still looking for that baby today.”