Happy Epiphany!

Epiphany: a Christian festival held on January 6th, commemorating, in the Western Church, the manifestation of Christ to the Magi and, in the Eastern Church, the baptism of Christ. It's also known as Three Kings Day or in Spain, Mexico, and other countries, El Dia de Los Reyes.

In Mexico and Spain children receive gifts on this day, brought by the Three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar. The Three Kings are actually more popular there than Santa Clause!

Eastern Christians believe that The Epiphany was the day Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. In New Jersey, where I grew up, there was a significant percentage of Greeks. It was referred to as "Little Christmas." It's also referred to as Twelfth Night, and in Italy, La Befana (an old women who leaves presents for the children).

Traditionally, my family (even tough we are not Greek) has kept our Christmas lights up and lit through this "Twelfth day of Christmas." In some ways, I'd like to keep my lights up and lit all year long. When I was on active duty in the Are Force, I flew with a Lt Col Powell who smiled almost all the time. When I finally asked him why, he said, "Everyday is Holiday if you know Jesus!"