EPIPS'ANY (Lat. cpiphania, from Gk. odvela, epiphancia, appearance, from ingta4s, cptphanes, evident, from e't(kaivriv, epiphainein, to appear, from cpi, upon +palmy, phainein, to be evident, Skt. bhun, to shine, 01r. ban, white). A festival held on the 6th of January by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and Anglican Churches in commemoration of the manifestation of Christ. Three different events are included in this celebration. As early as the third century at least it was observed as the commemoration of the baptism of Christ and His revelation to the world as the Son of God. Later, in the East it was also taken to commemorate the manifestation of divine power in Christ's first miracle at Cana in Galilee. In the Western Church the adoration of the Magi was principally put forward, the bap tism being specially mentioned in the service for the octave, and the miracle of Cana on the suc ceeding Sunday. In both East and West the Epiph any has always been a festival of the highest rank, and in the Eastern Church the privilege still remains of dispensation from abstinence should the day fall on a Friday, which in the Roman Catholic Church is now confined to Christ mas. Many special observances are or have been
connected with the day, which, under the name of Twelfth Day, Twelfth Night, was a time of spe cial merr•-making in England, and closed the Christmas festivities. By provision of the Coun cil of Nierea, the date of Easter for the year (then computed at Alexandria) was, and still is in the Roman Catholic Church, solemnly announced to the faithful on this day. In many places the blessing of water ( frequently in rivers). and in sonic of houses, takes place on this day. Sover eigns commonly offered gold. frankincense, and myrrh at. the altar, a custom which was still maintained at the French Court in the fourteenth century, and \Odell the King of England observes to ibis day in the Chapel Royal, Saint James's. Dramatic representations of the events commemo rated took place in elitirehes during mass; some remains of th(., performed in private houses, still linger in South Germany and Tyrol. For other popular observances, see BEFsxA; BEAN K \c's FESTI ‘1,.