JumpyTheFrog Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I grew up in a denomination that didn't talk about this holiday but now I attend a church where it is celebrated, although I don't know in what way. If your family will be celebrating tomorrow, can you give me some ideas for my elementary age kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 We have a church service with a pot-luck. Mt dds friend has an epiphany party, on the night before usually. They bake a cake with three beans in it, and they do a sort of hunt for the king statues that have been hidden in the house. I think they also make crowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMommy Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 We do stockings one last time in the morning. We read the Bible story about the Magi and the La Befana story. But the main attraction is the evening Divine Service. It's also dh's birthday, so we have a fun dinner and birthday cake, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) We usually go to our parish' creche exhibit that they do the Sunday we celebrate Epiphany (which was last Sunday) but we didn't get to it this time, unfortunately. So I was thinking of doing something tomorrow since it is the traditional date for Epiphany. Lots of people bake King Cakes. This is a Mardi Gras tradition but it really stems from celebrating the arrival of the 3 Kings. So you could do that. That isn't appealing to me though since we had way too much cake this Christmas season and I want to cut way way down on our sugar intake. So I was thinking of maybe just reading some poetry like this one by Longfellow and that great one by T. S. Eliot Also! I am about to run off and teach a class of second graders! You can find on line resources that have fun activities for kids. I am doing a bit with my kiddies today with fun stuff gleaned from here. Edited January 5, 2016 by Faithr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 We go to church. Epiphany hymns are some of the most beautiful of the year, with lots of food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 We celebrate Theophany (Epiphany) in the Orthodox Church with a Divine Liturgy and blessing of the waters as this is the feast day of the Lord's baptism and the public revelation of God in the flesh. We sing special hymns and everyone gets blessed with holy water which we take home in flasks for personal use. We often have a separate service for the Greater Blessing of the Waters in which parishioners walk or drive to a nearby large natural body of water to bless it. Then the braver and healthier among us dive into the freezing water! It is customary for us to have our homes blessed after Theophany and before Great Lent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsWeasley Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 It's not religious, but after the kids go to bed tonight, I'll take the tree down and leave a pot of flowers where the tree was. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
908874 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Where I'm from Epiphany is a big deal. The three wise men bring gifts to the children to celebrate that they brought gifts to baby Jesus. The kids go out, cut grass for the camels and leave it under the tree. Children festivals are plentiful with grown men dressing like the three wise men and having kids come and tell them what they want. I already took our tree down (last day for our trash to take it for recycling was yesterday). However, after homeschool tomorrow my kids will get the gifts my parents and aunts sent them on the mail. I live in CA, and very far away from my parents. At their house the tree is still up and tomorrow my nieces and nephews will be coming over to my parents house to get their gifts. The gifts are delivered exactly like Santa. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaplank Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 We do a special meal with Bible readings interspersed. We light the Christ candle from our advent wreath for the last time. We make a king cake for dessert. We do a little play and dress up as wise men and bring replicas of the gifts and place them by our nativity set. We also finally place the wise men at the nativity as they slowly travel there throughout our house during Advent and Christmas. We do the traditional chalking of the door and light candles and bless each room in our house. Here is a website that can give you some practical help and inspiration in making it a special day for your family. http://familyfeastandferia.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I continue the things we did when I was a kid which I suspect came from my German grandma. All the nativities stay out until the 6th. We will have small gifts for the kids, have cake with a bean in it. (If you get it no dishes for you the next day) and chalk the door with C+M+B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Amahl and the Night Visitors is also a fun listen or read for Epiphany. My current church/denimination does not do much. I miss some of the celebrations of my Anglican childhood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I wish I went to a church that acknowledged such events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I didn't celebrate personally, but sometimes hung out at Orthodox Ukrainian friends who celebrated with big, extended family meals that included delicious perogies, cabbage rolls, borscht, and other yummy food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Twelfthnight party on the Fifth, with cake and hidden silver coin (okay, dime) and crowns. Mass next day, blessing of chalk, and chalking of new year over house door. Happy + 2 + 0 + C + M + B + 1 + 6 + ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Divine Liturgy today with the blessing of holy water festal vigil tonight (vespers and matins) Divine Liturgy with blessing of the great waters (stream, lake, ocean) tomorrow. Feast. Lots of food and friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Just got back from Festal Vigil. This is my absolute favorite Feast Day of the year! As others have mentioned we celebrate Christ's Baptism and the revelation of the Trinity (called Theophany in the East). Father blesses the water that is used in church (and in our homes) throughout the year. Tomorrow will be liturgy and we'll process throughout the church and go ito each room and father will sprinkle water throughout the room (and on us too). It's a joyous and happy celebration. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Just got back from Festal Vigil. This is my absolute favorite Feast Day of the year! As others have mentioned we celebrate Christ's Baptism and the revelation of the Trinity (called Theophany in the East). Father blesses the water that is used in church (and in our homes) throughout the year. Tomorrow will be liturgy and we'll process throughout the church and go ito each room and father will sprinkle water throughout the room (and on us too). It's a joyous and happy celebration. ...with house blessings to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I leave my tree up until that day, but this year I failed and took it down on Monday :-/ I'll stop with the outside lights after tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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