20 K+M+B 10
"From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial."
"From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial."
Today's Feast of the Epiphany, also known as "Little Christmas," and "Twelfth Night," concludes the twelve days of Christmas. Of the many celebrations of the Christmas season and this special day commemorating the arrival of the Magi, the Polish "Festival of the Star" is as beautiful as any to be found in Christian tradition.
On the Feast of the Epiphany in Poland, the parish priest visits homes, blesses them, and using chalk writes over door lintels the initials of the three wise men - KMB (Kasper, Melchior and Balthazar) - with the prayerful hope that the family will be spared misfortune in the new year.
The Polish carols, "Gdy Sie, Chrystus Rodzi" (When Christ is born) and Medrcy Swiata (Three Wise Men) are a beautiful commemoration of this day signifying that Jesus came to redeem not only his own people, but the whole world.
On the Feast of the Epiphany in Poland, the parish priest visits homes, blesses them, and using chalk writes over door lintels the initials of the three wise men - KMB (Kasper, Melchior and Balthazar) - with the prayerful hope that the family will be spared misfortune in the new year.
The Polish carols, "Gdy Sie, Chrystus Rodzi" (When Christ is born) and Medrcy Swiata (Three Wise Men) are a beautiful commemoration of this day signifying that Jesus came to redeem not only his own people, but the whole world.
