Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: rkp@druwa.att.com (Russell Pierce) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: What are your Epiphany traditions? Message-ID: Date: 3 Jan 91 09:28:19 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I'd like to know how many of you out there participate in any Epiphany traditions either in your homes or in your church. For those not familiar with Epiphany, it is celebrated on January 6 and is the date set aside to recognize the arrival of the 3 Kings to Bethlehem. In some religions, it is the date that commemorates the baptism of Jesus. While growing up, I never even knew what Epiphany was. It wasn't until I became a member of a church that had Epiphany as its name that I became familiar with the celebration (this a Lutheran church in the ELCA). In the past, we have done such things as burn the church Christmas tree on Epiphany while singing carols for the last time of the season. Now, since Denver has banned trash burning, we just cut some branches off the tree and make a small fire with those branches (hope we never get arrested). We then have a worship service using incense and readings about the 3 Kings (we have worked out a deal with a nearby Catholic church to borrow their censer each year for this service). During communion, children of all ages receive bread. This bread has been baked with 3 peas in it (to represent the 3 Kings). The 3 children who get the peas get to come up and wear crowns and be the 3 Kings for the rest of the service. If you have any Epiphany traditions you would like to share, please send me email (or post if you prefer). I will summarize to this newsgroup after a while. Thanks. -- Russell Pierce 1200 W. 120th Ave. ...!att!druwa!rkp AT&T Westminster, CO 80234-2795 (303) 538-2023