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“We’re not lost; we’re just
on an adventure.” That
statement has become
a motto for my husband,
Mark, and me. Ever since we first
began dating years ago—and to this
day with our three kids in tow—we
have made a point of trying to discover
new things and places. More than once
we have been pleasantly surprised that
the best discoveries we have made have
been when we were completely unaware
of where we were or where we
were headed.
This month, as we celebrate the Feast
of the Epiphany, I like to think that in
some ways I have a special connection
with the three wise men. They weren’t
sure of where they were headed or what
they would discover, but they went
anyway. And in the end it turned out
to be a really great adventure with a
wonderful ending.
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 The Official End of the Christmas Season
The Feast of the Epiphany—which in
the United States is observed on the
Sunday after January 1—is the day we
celebrate that adventure and what it
means to us as Catholics. The feast’s traditional
date, January 6, marks the end
of the 12 days of Christmas, and celebrates the arrival of the three wise men,
or the Magi, in Bethlehem where Jesus
was born. Upon their arrival, the wise
men—which tradition has named
Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar—are
said to have presented Jesus with gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The word epiphany means “manifestation,”
which is exactly what the Magi
represent—Jesus’ manifestation to the
outside world.
One place where the three wise men
are still held in very high esteem is in
Mexico and other Spanish-speaking
countries where they celebrate El Día de
Los Reyes. On the night of January 5,
los reyes magos—the three wise men—deliver gifts to children.
Yet, despite their important role in
the story of the birth of Jesus, the feast
day honoring them and what they represent
is often overlooked in the post-Christmas hustle and bustle. I’ll confess
that there has been more than one year
that I have found the wise men from
my Nativity scene still hanging out on
the windowsill where I placed them
before Christmas, long after the other
figurines have been carefully wrapped
and put away.
The Season's Not Quite Over Yet
If in the past you’ve been guilty of skipping
over the part of the celebrations
that take place after Christmas Day,
take some time to refocus on this final
day of the Christmas season. Here are
some suggestions:
• Take a day trip. Go someplace you’ve
never been before.
• Try something new. The wise men
were taking a chance by making their
journey. Step out of your comfort zone
and try something you’ve never done
before but have always wanted to do,
such as painting, playing an instrument,
learning a new sport, etc.
• Celebrate Epiphany. By the time
January 6 rolls around, most people
already have their Christmas decorations
packed away until next year.
Resist that temptation this year and
leave the decorations up until the Feast
of the Epiphany, which marks the
end of the Christmas season. Gather
together as a family, have a special dinner
and then take down the decorations.
Talk about your favorite holiday
moments while you’re bringing the
season to a close.
• Take advantage of the downtime.
Once Christmas Day is past, you’ll probably
have fewer commitments and a
little more free time to yourself. Use
the time between Christmas and
Epiphany to reflect on the meaning of
the season. Examine whether you are
fully experiencing and taking advantage
of the whole Christmas cycle—
right through the Feast of the Epiphany.
• Read the story of the Magi from
Matthew’s Gospel—Matthew 2:1-12.
Next Month: Baptism
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