Epiphany, celebrated on January 6^th in most traditions, marks the official end of Christmas tide/Omen Days and returns us to “ordinary time” prior to the Lenten and Easter Season’s celebrations. Epi-Phainos in Ancient Greek means “coming upon or coming into the light” another way to translate the word would be simply “the light revealed”.

And, indeed the drama that is celebrated on this day are the Magi being able to see the Baby Jesus for themselves and give their gifts. In many parts of the world, Epiphany is like a second Christmas. Children are visited by the Magi and small gifts are left in their shoes.

Or, children are visited by La Befana who also leaves small gifts in shoes! (My Magician’s eye cannot help but notice that both moves honor age-old understandings of foot magic and confer an extra dash of good luck and protection on our children through their feet! Epiphany is strongly associated with light and stars. The three Magi of course followed the Star to Bethlehem during their long journey.

But, it seems that they made a stop along the way, in Italy.

Legend tells that they stopped at La Befana’s home. She of course is the Christmas-tide witch and when the Magi stopped by to make sure they were on the right track, La Befana was doing what any good witch would do at the turn of the year…she was engaging in more foot magic and broom magic by sweeping her home, specifically sweeping out the old year and sweeping in the new.

In some stories, La Befana is too busy to talk to the Wise Men, then she feels bad about it and goes off to find the baby Jesus herself. I love this and I add a wee witch to my own Nativity scene in her honor.

In other stories, she gives the Magi a place to stay for the evening, feeds them good food, and then joins then on their journey. The Wise Men bring Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold. La Befana, being both a woman and a witch, brings food for the family and plenty of baked goods. (Wonder which one Mother Mary preferred?!)

Speaking of baked goods, one of the most exciting elements of Epiphany, especially for our children, is the eating of King’s Cake. The King’s cake is a traditional baked good that is loaded with flaky layers of cinnamon and sugar, jam, or cream cheese. It is also loaded with a secret something else. Traditionally this was a fava bean, representing the Baby Jesus, nowadays it often is a little baby Jesus plastic figurine. Whoever gets it is viewed as especially blessed and lucky during the year to come. Divination + Cake + Magic…what’s not to love?!

What are we celebrating during the Feast Day of Epiphany?

Light, direction, charting a course and staying on it, the sweeping out of the old, the calling in of the new, miracles in the least expected places, the giving of gifts, the random moments of sweetness and luck that are bestowed on each of us throughout the year. Yes.

And also, this: the immigrant, the migrant, the stranger, the one who is foreign, or odd in appearance, in voice or manner. Like three foreign magicians or an old witch from a tiny Italian village. It is easy to begin the year thinking we know, we understand, we are sure of who is a friend and who is an enemy, what is right and what is wrong, what is safe and what (or who) is dangerous. Easy to go through life that way too. Epiphany would counsel us differently. It would encourage us to not assume that we always know, to be open to the unexpected miracle, to find the places of light and magic and sweetness, in this cold and dark season. Epiphany reminds us that life is beginning and happening even now, even here, and that blessings are always, always, waiting.

Areas to especially consider as you make your petition include:

• Caring for the feet…including what you stand on and who you stand for
• Welcoming those who are different/other
• Cleaning your internal and external house 🙂
• Blessing your kitchen
• Cooking magic
• Finding the light
• Seeing truly

As always, those who wish to add extra magic to their celebrations may order the custom candle for December: Magic. Find it here.