Epiphany

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Assyrian · Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · Eastern Orthodox (new calendar) · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

Epiphany, from the Greek for "manifestation", celebrates Jesus being revealed to the world. Western churches mark chiefly the Magi's visit, so it is also called Three Kings' Day; Eastern churches, who call it Theophany, mark his baptism in the Jordan. Its eve, January 5, is Twelfth Night, when many take down their Christmas decorations, and customs include Three Kings cake, house blessings and winter swimming. The Gospel's Magi (magoi) take their name from the Old Persian maguš, the priestly caste of Zoroastrian Iran. When Khosrow II's army took Jerusalem in 614, it spared the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; a legend says its commander, Shahrbaraz, did so because the mosaic over the door showed the Magi in the dress of Zoroastrian priests.