Dinner ideas for Epiphany?

[Southernmiss]

I've always known what the Epiphany is from growing up in the church, although it wasn't any big deal.

However, check out any of the inevitable upcoming, "when will you take down your Christmas Tree" threads that will appear in about a month and you will see TONS of responses that folks won't take their trees down until the Epiphany!!!

I had never even heard of that being the big "take down the tree day" until I joined the Dis. Some Disboarders will even lecture the folks who take their trees down soon after Dec. 25th, that they can't believe they do that as, "the Christmas season is just starting on the 25th! Cracks me up every year!! Haha!!

In fact, I would be rather surprised that many people on the Dis actually cook special meals on this day, because they are so busy taking down their trees and decorations!!

That's why we have gumbo or red beans on Epiphany. It can simmer on the stove while we take down the tree and Christmas decorations.

 

[Babs Johnson]

I never realized that some people have a special meal for Epiphany.

Even when I was still somewhat observant, it was just another day for food.

 

[tvguy]

However, check out any of the inevitable upcoming, "when will you take down your Christmas Tree" threads that will appear in about a month and you will see TONS of responses that folks won't take their trees down until the Epiphany!!!

I had never even heard of that being the big "take down the tree day" until I joined the Dis. Some Disboarders will even lecture the folks who take their trees down soon after Dec. 25th, that they can't believe they do that as, "the Christmas season is just starting on the 25th! Cracks me up every year!! Haha!!

In fact, I would be rather surprised that many people on the Dis actually cook special meals on this day, because they are so busy taking down their trees and decorations!!

Pretty much us. We observe what we consider the traditional Christmas season. It starts 12 days before Christmas (as in the the song The 12 Days of Christmas, and ends on the Epiphany. Many DISers observe what I consider the commercial Christmas season, that starts the day after Thanksgiving, and ends on Christmas day.
We don't take down our decorations on the Epiphany, we don't take them down until the first weekend with good weather AFTER the Epiphany. Although when it comes to outdoor lights, several of my neighbors have those fancy digital outdoor lights. They change the colors depending on the next holiday. Red and green for Christmas, red for Valentines Day, Orange for Easter. Red, White and Blue for July 4h.. Orange for Halloween.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Three kings give baby Jesus three gifts a couple weeks after he is born. Catholics/Christians celebrate the feast day on January 6th every year. The magnitude of the feast day varies from country to country depending on how deeply religious the country is. In the USA it is pretty mellow (with the exception of NOLA). Small gifts are exchanged and some people leave out dried dates and water for the wise men's camels. Three Kings cake is the usual dessert. Many attend mass on the day (though some just celebrate on the nearest Sunday) and have a special meal to commemorate it. It should be noted that some religious people celebrate the feast day on a lesser scale than others. France, Spain, and Portugal celebrate the day on a large scale however. I have ancestry from those places, so it holds an extra special meaning to me. As just a cool aside note, the three wise men's remains are actually located in a Catholic cathedral in Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Wow, I had no idea. I was raised Christian Reformed and now non-denominational but never even heard this even in passing.
Thank you for a great explanation!

 

[SpaceMan5]

I've always known what the Epiphany is from growing up in the church, although it wasn't any big deal.

However, check out any of the inevitable upcoming, "when will you take down your Christmas Tree" threads that will appear in about a month and you will see TONS of responses that folks won't take their trees down until the Epiphany!!!

I had never even heard of that being the big "take down the tree day" until I joined the Dis. Some Disboarders will even lecture the folks who take their trees down soon after Dec. 25th, that they can't believe they do that as, "the Christmas season is just starting on the 25th! Cracks me up every year!! Haha!!

In fact, I would be rather surprised that many people on the Dis actually cook special meals on this day, because they are so busy taking down their trees and decorations!!

Dang, never ever heard about this until now.

Is this more an East Coast thing! My guess it is even spread throughout the US

 

[Buzz Rules]

Dang, never ever heard about this until now.

Is this more an East Coast thing! My guess it is even spread throughout the US

It's more of how much snow do you normally get in a season thing.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Wow, I had no idea. I was raised Christian Reformed and now non-denominational but never even heard this even in passing.
Thank you for a great explanation!

You're very welcome. You can always make the cake without celebrating the religious aspect as well (all the different versions are delicious in my opinion).

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Pretty much us. We observe what we consider the traditional Christmas season. It starts 12 days before Christmas (as in the the song The 12 Days of Christmas, and ends on the Epiphany. Many DISers observe what I consider the commercial Christmas season, that starts the day after Thanksgiving, and ends on Christmas day.
We don't take down our decorations on the Epiphany, we don't take them down until the first weekend with good weather AFTER the Epiphany. Although when it comes to outdoor lights, several of my neighbors have those fancy digital outdoor lights. They change the colors depending on the next holiday. Red and green for Christmas, red for Valentines Day, Orange for Easter. Red, White and Blue for July 4h.. Orange for Halloween.

We observe what I feel is the "traditional" Christmas season, which would start December 1.

It's interesting that you put emphasis on the Epiphany and a Christmas carol (12 days of Christmas) and completely skip over the Advent season, which starts long before December 13th! This year Advent begins on December 3rd.

I guess you view Advent as the "commercial" Christmas season? I don't think I've ever heard that sentiment before.

 

[Buzz Rules]

We observe what I feel is the "traditional" Christmas season, which would start December 1.

It's interesting that you put emphasis on the Epiphany and a Christmas carol (12 days of Christmas) and completely skip over the Advent season, which starts long before December 13th! This year Advent begins on December 3rd.

I guess you view Advent as the "commercial" Christmas season? I don't think I've ever heard that sentiment before.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/kids-tudors/twelve-days-of-christmas/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Dang, never ever heard about this until now.

Is this more an East Coast thing! My guess it is even spread throughout the US

I don't think the Epiphany is an east coast thing, but I could be wrong. I feel like it's a Disboard thing!! Haha!!

Like I said, I grew up in the church and the Epiphany was a very minor thing. I truly never heard of people keeping their tree up as a way to celebrate it, that's for sure!

 

[Buzz Rules]

I don't think the Epiphany is an east coast thing, but I could be wrong. I feel like it's a Disboard thing!! Haha!!

Like I said, I grew up in the church and the Epiphany was a very minor thing. I truly never heard of people keeping their tree up as a way to celebrate it, that's for sure!

It's a worldwide Catholic/Christian thing and has been for over 1000 years.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/kids-tudors/twelve-days-of-christmas/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas

You should show this to TVGUY. He's the one that said that the traditional season starts 12 days BEFORE Christmas. Your link explains the 12 days begins ON Christmas day!

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Dinner ideas for Epiphany? I'm trying to think ahead on what to serve/make on the feast day. I know I will make a three kings cake (the Spanish version) but that's it so far. I usually make fish Christmas Eve, turkey Christmas Day, and a ham on New Years Day. I was thinking of lasagna as the main course with some kind of soup, salad, and bread as starters but I would love to hear suggestions from Disboarders if you have any. If anyone else does celebrate Epiphany, do you have any traditional meals that you make? Thanks in advance.

What is epiphany?

 

[fortwildernessishome]

It's a worldwide Catholic/Christian thing and has been for over 1000 years.

Oh yes, I totally agree!!

I didn't explain myself well enough. I was more saying that even though I grew up in the church, Protestant, and my husband grew up Catholic, with both of us going to church every week, the epiphany was just not a big deal. It wasn't a day to be celebrated. It wasn't a day to keep your tree up for. It was a very minor day in the church calendar for both of us and basically everyone we knew.

But since joining the Dis I hear about the Epiphany every year, almost exclusively on the "when do you take down your Christmas tree" thread!

Hope I cleared up any confusion as I of course know the Epiphany has been around forever!

 

[tvguy]

We observe what I feel is the "traditional" Christmas season, which would start December 1.

It's interesting that you put emphasis on the Epiphany and a Christmas carol (12 days of Christmas) and completely skip over the Advent season, which starts long before December 13th! This year Advent begins on December 3rd.

I guess you view Advent as the "commercial" Christmas season? I don't think I've ever heard that sentiment before.

Advent is the time of anticipation of the Christmas season. The prequel I guess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent

 

[Buzz Rules]

What is epiphany?

See previous posts.

 

[georgina]

You should show this to TVGUY. He's the one that said that the traditional season starts 12 days BEFORE Christmas. Your link explains the 12 days begins ON Christmas day!

Yep! Advent is the time of preparation, the 12 days of Christmas go until Epiphany. We were always a family who put the tree up mid-December and took it down after Jan 6. (This year the 4th Sunday of Advent falls on Christmas Eve, causing so many dilemmas in church decorating!) The church ladies at our church will not be waiting until the afternoon of the 24th to do the Christmas decorating, probably not many people will bother going to the Advent 4 service in the morning since they will all go in the evening for Christmas Eve.

 

[Moliphino]

I don't think the Epiphany is an east coast thing, but I could be wrong. I feel like it's a Disboard thing!! Haha!!

Like I said, I grew up in the church and the Epiphany was a very minor thing. I truly never heard of people keeping their tree up as a way to celebrate it, that's for sure!

We didn't so much keep the tree up to celebrate Epiphany. It's more that Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season, so the tree should at least stay up through then.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

We didn't so much keep the tree up to celebrate Epiphany. It's more that Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season, so the tree should at least stay up through then.

So, if your tree must stay up until the Epiphany for the end of the Christmas season, does that also mean you put your tree up for the first Sunday in Advent, which is the start of the Christmas season? This year its Sunday December 3rd?

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Advent is the time of anticipation of the Christmas season. The prequel I guess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent

I know what Advent is!

For lots of people, myself included it's the start of the Christmas season.

You said above that anything before the "12 days of Christmas" is the "commercial" Christmas season. I totally and completely disagree with that.

Growing up in the Protestant church much more time and emphasis went into the Advent season then the Epiphany.