Prelate urges Catholics to celebrate 'Epiphany'

IMUS CITY, Cavite – A prelate here has advised the Catholic faithful that the focus of the celebration should reflect on Ephiphany rather than the traditional feast of the “Three Kings” every first Sunday of January.

In an interview by PNA, Reverend Father Ned Nazareno, assistant Parish Priest of the Our Lady of Mother Pillar Church or the Imus Cathedral said the Catholic parishioners should focus more on the celebration of Epiphany because it is the baptism of the child Jesus about 12 days after his birth at the manger in Bethlehem on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).

"Dapatbigyanang kahalagaanang pagbaptismongMahalnaPoongHesuskaysasa pagdiriwangng Three Kings na pagbisitangtatlong haring magonasina Gaspar, Balthazar at Melchor. Walanamangmasamanaipagdiwangito, isapusonatinitonanaayonsaBiblia (We should give importance to the baptism of Jesus than the celebration of the feast of the Three Kings Gaspar, Balthazar and Melchor who visited the infant Jesus.  There is nothing wrong to celebrate, as long as we take it to heart according to the Bible)," the prelate explained.

Nazareno also pointed out that the celebration of the “Three Kings” as marked in the Catholic calendar has been re-named to “Epiphany” by His Holiness Pope Francis.

In the Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as the Epiphany and goes by other names in various church traditions although, the countries like the Philippines also has marked it as the “Three Kings’ Day.”

According to Biblical accounts, the three “kings” or the magi (wisemen) were popularly known as Melchor, a Persian scholar; Caspar also Gaspar, an Indian scholar; and Balthasar, a Babylonian scholar, who were on a journey tracking down the way to the newborn King by following the guiding light of the bright star in the east and paid homage and offered presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn child Jesus in a Bethlehem manger.

Epiphany is considered the “Twelfth Day” after Christmas Day and thus falls on Jan. 6, a Saturday but churches observe it on the Epiphany’s eve called the “Twelfth Night.”

Various celebrations and practices characterize the Epiphany observance in mainly Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and other liturgical churches with their traditions of offering prayers, some to the three kings or the Magis (wisemen).

As the 12th day and the baptism of the infant Jesus, Epiphany is still a very important date in the Christian calendar around the world that has come to be known as a Christian feast day, which marks the end of the Christmas festive season.

Nazareno expounded that Epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation” reflecting the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi while for some, and to others Epiphany also commemorates the baptism of Jesus.

He said that the term is derived from the Greek word which means “manifestation” and Epiphany was celebrated in Europe since the 4th century and up to modern time when it has blended to the Feast of the Three Kings or the Feast of the Epiphany as a big event among Filipino Catholics every Jan. 6.

As a time of feasting, visiting and gift-giving officially marking the end of the Christmas celebration in the Philippines, the Epiphany has been known to some places in the Philippines as “PaskongMatatanda” or the Feast of the Elderly to honor the senior citizens as people usher in the New Year.

In Cavite, the celebration is highlighted by a church mass and afterward the parishioners bond with their families in a long table where specially cooked dishes are served like the local “kakanin” or Filipino delicacies made from main ingredients such as sticky rice and root crops like “puto” as the more popular ones.

Other famous servings are the steamed rice-cakes like the traditionally plain and white or brown “kutsinta as the very sticky, frequently brown-colored treat often served with grated coconut, alongside puto.

Other fares include the “bibingka” made from glutinous rice and coconut milk, traditionally prepared in a clay oven using the charcoal and when baked, it is topped with butter and sprinkled with sugar and grated coconut.

“Pitsi-Pitsi” is another food delicacy made from cassava mixed with coconut milk that was believed to have originated from Quezon province.

These specialties are also offered to neighbors as people greet them "Happy Three Kings" and are believed to be sticky, sweet and mostly round in shapes to signify the sticky and close familiar ties and bonding in the family and the cordial relations among neighbors.

In some parts of the country, the Three Kings is celebrated with exchange gifts and some mark their “open house” to welcome visitors and savor the taste the food specialties. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)