Celebration of the Epiphany

The holiday season has come to an end, filled with joy and excitement, and my family and I truly cherished the moments we shared. However, as the weather shifts, it seems that many family members and friends are battling the usual colds and sniffles that often accompany this time of year. My youngest daughter visited over the weekend after attending a funeral in Hondo. She spent some quality time with me, helping to take down the Christmas tree and tackle some cleaning. I had recently bought shades for my sewing room, and she kindly cut them to the right size and hung them up for me! We had a lovely time reminiscing about the holidays, both agreeing that it was a truly special season.
January 6 marks the celebration of the Epiphany, a term derived from Greek that signifies "appearance." This occasion is also known as the Feast of Lights, the Feast of the Three Kings, and Twelfth Night. It marks the end of the season dedicated to the Nativity in the Christian liturgical calendar. In Western traditions, Epiphany honors the visit of the Three Kings, or Wise Men, to the newborn Jesus, representing a significant Christian festival that celebrates Christ's manifestation. Although the Nativity was originally observed on this date, it was moved to December 25 in the fourth century A.D. What started as a deeply solemn feast evolved into a period of festivities, particularly during the sixteenth century under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

We are focusing on the Feast of the Three Kings and the Twelfth Night of Christmas for this column! I realize that by the time this edition reaches you, the opportunity to bake the cake and join in the festivities will have passed. However, you can keep this idea for next year, or who knows, perhaps I’ll manage to be more prompt with my column in the future!
Mardi Gras begins with Twelfth Night, celebrated twelve days after Christmas, marking the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. In Spanish tradition, gifts are exchanged on this night rather than Christmas. The French refer to it as Petit Noel, celebrated on January 6th, which is known for its festive balls. This year, the festivities wrap up on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, February 10th. Celebrations traditionally started in private homes, culminating in the enjoyment of the Gateau du Roi, a cake made from brioche dough. Inside the cake, there was often a small bisque or porcelain figurine, or a bean—typically a red bean that might be gilded with silver or gold leaf. According to tradition, the individual who found the doll or bean in their slice would be crowned king or queen of the ball, tasked with organizing the following week's celebration. The series of balls continued