The 12 Days of Christmas More Than Just A Song

Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season

It may feel like Christmas is over, but in the church it is celebrated for 12 days beginning at sunset Christmas Eve through Epiphany.

Epiphany, meaning manifestation,  marks the 12th day of Christmas made famous by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Celebrated on Jan. 6 or the first Sunday after falling this year on Sunday.

Epiphany – as told in Matthew 2:1-12 – celebrates the coming of the wise men to visit the baby Jesus with gifts. The gifts noted the royalty of Jesus. The visit from the Magi marks the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles. While the Jews were waiting for the Messiah, they believed he would only come for them. But with the coming of the wise men, it meant that Christ was for everyone.

This Sunday, churches will be filled with singing "We Three Kings" to commemorate the coming of the Magi proving that he was the Christ for all and covering us with his grace. God sent his love to us through his Son, Emmanuel – God with us.

Epiphany Hymn

O God,

you made of one blood all nations,

and, by a star in the East,

revealed to all peoples him whose name is Emmanuel.

Enable us who know your presence with us

so to proclaim his unsearchable riches

that all may come to his light

and bow before the brightness of his rising,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever. Amen.

“Epiphany”; The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 255

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2019