Epiphany vs Nativity: Do you know the difference?

[Fauken]

This question is aimed towards Protestants that do not have a liturgy in their tradition (Baptists, non-denominationals, etc.), but all are welcome to chip in their experiences!

I was having a conversation with one of my relatives this past Thanksgiving about Nativity scenes, and over the course of our conversation, I realized he didn’t seem to know Epiphany scenes existed: he seemed to think they were erroneous Nativity scenes. This got me wondering: do Protestants know the difference between a Nativity scene and an Epiphany scene? Now, I’m a convert from a nominally Baptist family, so I can’t call on my background to answer this myself. What say you?

 

[BartholomewB]

You seem to be implying that in some places, or in some cultures, a Nativity scene featuring the Holy Family, but without the Magi, is replaced after Christmas with a modified Epiphany version in which the Magi have their place. Is this what you’re telling us, or have I misunderstood your post?

If that is what you’re saying, it’s news to me. In a few days’ time I expect we’ll see this year’s nativity scene in St Peter’s Square, with the Magi once again, as usual, unbiblically present already in Advent.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-nativity-scene-christmas-tree-unveiled-24825

 

[Childoftheday]

Yes. The Nativity is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The Epiphany is the celebration of his announcement to the world.

 

[RoseScented]

My parish always has its Nativity Scene set up so that the magi are farther away from the holy family and then on the Epiphany they are moved up to a position to be part of the scene. I like how my parish has them “journeying” from a different part of the church.

 

[Vico]

… I realized he didn’t seem to know Epiphany scenes existed: …

• Nativity - December 25 - birth of Christ (eastern churches mention magi)
• Epiphany/Theophany - January 6 - (eastern) revelation of Trinity at the baptism of Christ (western churches mention magi)
• Baptism - In 1955 the baptism of Christ was added by Pope Pius XII to the Latin calendar, a week after Epiphany.

Owing no doubt to the vagueness of the name Epiphany, very different manifestations of Christ’s glory and Divinity were celebrated in this feast quite early in its history, especially the Baptism, the miracle at Cana, the Nativity, and the visit of the Magi. But we cannot for a moment suppose that in the first instance a festival of manifestations in general was established, into which popular local devotion read specified meaning as circumstances dictated. It seems fairly clear that the Baptism was the event predominantly commemorated. …

That the Epiphany was of later introduction in the West than the Christmas festival of 25 December, has been made clear …

… the West took up the Oriental January feast, retaining all its chief characteristics, though attaching overwhelming importance, as time went on, to the apparition of the Magi.

Martindale, C.C. (1909). Epiphany. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05504c.htm

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

In my upbringing (Bapticostal neighborhood ), there was no distinction. Christmas season started immediately after Thanksgiving and ended within a week or so of the last Sunday in December. There was zero distinction between Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

 

[Dorothy]

My parish does the same thing.

 

[ltwin]

As a Pentecostal Christian, we don’t celebrate it as a separate holiday. We commemorate it as part of Christmas . Most nativity scenes will include 3 Wise Men (of course we realize that the Wise Men were not actually present when Jesus was born).

 

[Evan]

Nativity = Jesus birth in Bethlehem

Annunciation = The Word made flesh.

 

[Dovekin]

Nativity = 1st day of Christmas

Epiphany = 12th day of Christmas.

:dancer:t2::woman_cartwheeling:t3:

 

[exnihilo]

I imagine many of us, both Catholic and Protestant, have erroneous ideas about these seasons. For instance Holy Scripture doesn’t say there were three wise men. It only says there were three gifts. Tradition gives us three names for the wise men. The Church proclaims three Saints. But the text itself doesn’t say there were three men. Nonetheless many think that the Bible says there were three wise men.

 

[Fauken]

It only says there were three gifts.

That is not quite true. Matthew mentions, though not the number from what I see, wise men visiting Christ:

“2:1 When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
2:2 Saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him.
…
2:9 Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
2:10 And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11 And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

 

[babochka]

Nativity = 1st day of Christmas

Epiphany = 12th day of Christmas.

:dancer:t2::woman_cartwheeling:t3:

Not quite. Epiphany is its own feast, which comes after Christmas.

December 25 - 1st day
December 26 - 2nd day
December 27 - 3rd day
December 28 - 4th day
December 29 - 5th day
December 30 - 6th day
December 31 - 7th day
January 1 - 8th day
January 2 - 9th day
January 3 - 10th day
January 4 - 11th day
January 5 - 12th day
January 6 - Epiphany

 

[exnihilo]

I was saying the number of wise men was not mentioned. Yes, it does mention ‘wise men’.

 

[Medawlinno]

The 20CMB17 is common in Germany. I don’t recall the ‘+’ between the numbers and letters though.

See the link below for a video of a common “procession” in parts of Austria for Epiphany - the song is sung in local dialect, but tells the story of the three kings visiting Herod.

 

[cynzast]

WOW never heard of this

 

[Vico]

Dovekin:

Nativity = 1st day of Christmas

Epiphany = 12th day of Christmas.

:dancer:t2::woman_cartwheeling:t3:

Not quite. Epiphany is its own feast, which comes after Christmas.

December 25 - 1st day
December 26 - 2nd day
December 27 - 3rd day
December 28 - 4th day
December 29 - 5th day
December 30 - 6th day
December 31 - 7th day
January 1 - 8th day
January 2 - 9th day
January 3 - 10th day
January 4 - 11th day
January 5 - 12th day
January 6 - Epiphany

And in the USCCB Latin Liturgical Calendar is also listed:

Sun	The Epiphany of the Lord
Mon	Christmas Weekday
Tue	Christmas Weekday
Wed	Christmas Weekday
Thu	Christmas Weekday
Fri	Christmas Weekday
Sat	Christmas Weekday
Sun	The Baptism of the Lord
Mon	Weekday (First Week of Ordinary Time)

 

[Dovekin]

Oh Dear!

There are twenty days of Christmas this year? I have to get 132 more gifts for my true love? I don’t know if I can afford it!

13 dwarves a questing
14 knights in battle
15 debutants parading
16 candles burning
17
18
19
20 Venti Lattes

I don’t even know what to get!