Epiphany and Protestants

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A friend and I were looking at a calendar of next January. I noted that January 6 is a Friday, and said, “January 6th is something, but I can’t remember what.”

She looked at her computer and said, “Epiphany.”

I said, “Oh, that’s right. Epiphany.”

She asked, “What’s Epiphany?”

I said, ‘you know, it’s the three kings visiting Jesus, the nativity, that whole thing.’ She didn’t seem familiar with it. And the conversation moved on.

I was a little surprised that she didn’t know, as I assumed it’s a widely known event/observance throughout Christendom. She is Evangelical Free, and in her 40s.

Would this be a common unfamiliarity among Christian non-Catholics? (I know that Episcopalians and Lutherans know Epiphany).
 
The word “epiphany” isn’t in the bible, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

And as “epiphany” is also a word in the English language without a particular Christian or religious significance, I can see the confusion.
 
Even as a Catholic growing up, I didn’t have a strong education in what Epiphany is. That said, it would be nice if we could get broader recognition of that and the real “twelve days of Christmas”. Seems like most people celebrate Christmas the last few weeks of December instead of *starting *the celebration on Dec. 25 and going through Epiphany.
 
on_the_hill said:
I said, ‘you know, it’s the three kings visiting Jesus, the nativity, that whole thing.’ She didn’t seem familiar with it. And the conversation moved on.

I was a little surprised that she didn’t know, as I assumed it’s a widely known event/observance throughout Christendom. She is Evangelical Free, and in her 40s.

Would this be a common unfamiliarity among Christian non-Catholics? (I know that Episcopalians and Lutherans know Epiphany).
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Evangelical Free don’t follow a liturgical calendar and don’t particular mark days like Epiphany. It is not widely known nor celebrated throughout Evangelical circles, nor other non-liturgical Christian faiths.

Episcopalians and Lutherans do follow a liturgical calendar. Even then, among the poorly to moderately catechized you’ll find that most don’t know it.
 
jane_doe said:
Evangelical Free don’t follow a liturgical calendar and don’t particular mark days like Epiphany. It is not widely known nor celebrated throughout Evangelical circles, nor other non-liturgical Christian faiths.

Episcopalians and Lutherans do follow a liturgical calendar. Even then, among the poorly to moderately catechized you’ll find that most don’t know it.
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Interesting. I had no idea.

That gives some credence to the comment made by a Lutheran friend that the Evangelical Free friend wasn’t familiar with Lent. That surprised me and I didn’t really believe it. Until now…🙂
 
When I left being the Music Director at my old parish, they hired a very nice Baptist college student to play the piano/organ. He insisted that the choir should sing We Three Kings of Orient are for communion at Midnight Mass.
He wouldn’t hear of it not being the right time for it.
He was completely surprised on the Epiphany by the readings.
For him, Christmas was ONE DAY, and everything happened on that one day. 🤷
 
on_the_hill said:
Interesting. I had no idea.

That gives some credence to the comment made by a Lutheran friend that the Evangelical Free friend wasn’t familiar with Lent. That surprised me and I didn’t really believe it. Until now…🙂
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In the US, Lent is almost exclusively practiced by Catholics. I’ve never met an Evangelical who practiced Lent, and have actually heard many speak out against it.
 
Yes, this is common among Protestants in the U.S., especially for the more evangelical/bible churches. Most of these kinds of churches don’t follow any kind of liturgical calendar and don’t celebrate any special feasts outside of maybe Christmas and Easter (and a handful don’t even celebrate those). Many mainline protestants follow some kind of liturgical calendar and will observe dates like the Epiphany, but a lot of them don’t attach the importance to it like the Catholic Church does. The same goes for other things like Advent and Lent.
 
on_the_hill said:
Interesting. I had no idea.

That gives some credence to the comment made by a Lutheran friend that the Evangelical Free friend wasn’t familiar with Lent. That surprised me and I didn’t really believe it. Until now…🙂
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I can’t imagine even a poorly catechized Lutheran or Anglican, who attends worship, not having a cursory knowledge of Epiphany, though I’m sure there may be some. Perhaps the same for poorly catechized Catholics, do you think? 😦

Jon
 
jane_doe said:
In the US, Lent is almost exclusively practiced by Catholics. I’ve never met an Evangelical who practiced Lent, and have actually heard many speak out against it.
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And, as noted, by Anglicans, etc.
 
jane_doe said:
In the US, Lent is almost exclusively practiced by Catholics. I’ve never met an Evangelical who practiced Lent, and have actually heard many speak out against it.
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Around where I live in Pennsylvania, there are quite a few Protestants who observe Lent, and some Lutheran churches distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday. But I guess not E-Frees.
 
on_the_hill said:
Around where I live in Pennsylvania, there are quite a few Protestants who observe Lent, and some Lutheran churches distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday. But I guess not E-Frees.
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Some Presbyterians and Episcopalian churches distribute ashes here in Pittsburgh as well.
 
Kielbasi said:
Some Presbyterians and Episcopalian churches distribute ashes here in Pittsburgh as well.
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Liturgical rituals and customs are popping up all over. You’d be surprised. I’ve seen reformed churches break out the Advent wreath and start following Lent. Ashes to Go is becoming quite popular, and quite a few non-liturgical churches are taking part in that also.

I’m not certain if we are seeing only certain rituals or if non-liturgicals are embracing the entire liturgical year, but there are signs of new and wondrous things happening.
 
on_the_hill said:
A friend and I were looking at a calendar of next January. I noted that January 6 is a Friday, and said, “January 6th is something, but I can’t remember what.”

She looked at her computer and said, “Epiphany.”

I said, “Oh, that’s right. Epiphany.”

She asked, “What’s Epiphany?”

I said, ‘you know, it’s the three kings visiting Jesus, the nativity, that whole thing.’ She didn’t seem familiar with it. And the conversation moved on.

I was a little surprised that she didn’t know, as I assumed it’s a widely known event/observance throughout Christendom. She is Evangelical Free, and in her 40s.

Would this be a common unfamiliarity among Christian non-Catholics? (I know that Episcopalians and Lutherans know Epiphany).
Click to expand...
Interesting question. We (Orthodox) certainly have a great feast on January 6th, but we call it Theophany (“the showing-forth of God”) and it’s all about the Lord’s baptism. I don’t see or recall any mention of the three kings/magi in the hymns of the feast. If you had asked me what feast included that narrative I would have said Christmas.
 
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