What is Epiphany:
Epiphany means appearance, manifestation or phenomenon from which an important matter is revealed. The word comes from Greek epiphaneiawhich means ‘to show’ or ‘to appear above’.
An epiphany can refer to any type of element that manifests unexpectedly, whether divine or not. For example, a good idea that appears suddenly may be considered “an epiphany.”
In it philosophical senseEpiphany can refer to a deep sense of fulfillment when understanding the essence or nature of things.
The British tend to use this term a lot saying: “I just had an epiphany“(“I just had an epiphany”), means that you have had a unique, indescribable revelation or thought.
Epiphany can be an enlightened thought, an inspiration that seems to be a thing from God.
Difference between epiphany and theophany
While epiphany is a term that refers to any type of revelation (a meaning, a concept, a transcendental presence), the term theophany It refers strictly to the divine manifestation before human beings.
Epiphany in literature
The term epiphany has been applied to literature to refer to those scenes that relate apparently everyday events, from which revealing information about the character or the event emerges inadvertently for the reader. This use of the term was first applied by James Joyce.
Epiphany of the Lord
The Epiphany of the Lord is a religious holiday of the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. In this context, epiphany is understood as the revelation of the presence of the God incarnate, that is, of Jesus made man in front of humanity. However, the Catholic and Orthodox churches relate this concept to two different times.
For the Catholic Church, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which is celebrated on January 6, is related to the moment when Jesus was made known to the May kings.
In the Orthodox Church, the Epiphany refers to the moment in which God reveals the divine origin of Jesus through the Holy Spirit during the baptism. Thus, in this episode God manifests himself before men as the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
See also Holy Trinity.
The feast of the Epiphany in the Hispanic world
In the Spanish-speaking world, where Catholicism is widely spread, the epiphany is celebrated on January 6.
In countries like Mexico and Argentina, the family shares a thread, bread made with orange blossom, butter and decorated with fruits. Inside the thread there is one or more figures that represent the baby Jesus. Whoever finds it must hold a party on February 2, the day of the Virgin of Candelaria, and present the child God to the temple.
Likewise, in some countries like Spain it is tradition to give a gift to children as a souvenir of the gifts that the Three Wise Men gave to the Child Jesus.
For more information, see the article Epiphany of the Lord.