Epiphany 2018

In Catholic countries, Epiphany is often a bigger celebration than is Christmas--because it celebrates the manifestation of baby Jesus' divinity to the world--and that is when the children even receive their gifts (instead of on Dec. 25). Our Epiphany certainly wasn't bigger than Christmas, but it did cover three days of fun.

We attended our first Epiphany party at CCE on Friday.

Our children acting out the three wise men finding baby Jesus

A procession to the nativity

That night, Chris and the older children attended the blessing of holy water, salt, and chalk, followed by a high Latin Mass of the Vigil of Epiphany (click here for the newspaper article).

On Saturday morning (Epiphany itself), we gave the children religious gifts from their Auntie E----.

Then we attended a lovely Epiphany party which offered something like five authentic kings' cakes from various countries!

The girls decided right before going to the party that they wanted to sing a duet of We Three Kings at the event, so they practice in the back of the van on the drive over. I don't know where these sweet children get their desire and ability to perform, but I know it's not from their mother.

The gracious hosts even sent us home with two whole pizzas that were leftover, so I didn't have to cook dinner that night. In the evening, we took our children to Pike's (where we hadn't visited in years) for old-fashioned ice creams. So fun!

Late that night and the following morning, our family completed its annual project of creating Epiphany house blessing kits for our parish. Chris takes ten gallons of water, and much salt and chalk, to be blessed, then he and the children divided it all up into little kits with attached instructions. My contribution to the whole affair is keeping the younger set of tots out of their hair while they work.

Making Epiphany house blessing kits

Sunday brought more celebration, with kings' cakes served after Mass, a baptism, and a cookout over the bonfire at a friends' home.

Grand fun was had by all, and now the school week awaits us . . . although there is more Special happening there too, the story to be told on my next Seven Quick Takes!