Epiphany explained

Epiphany

Fancy a dip in a freezing cold lake to start the new year? Karen Miller takes a look at the Christian festival of Epiphany - and how church traditions around the world commemorate the day that Jesus was revealed as the saviour of the world

Have you taken your Christmas tree down yet? Traditionally, festive decorations stay up throughout the twelve days of Christmas, which takes us to 5 January. The following day is known as Epiphany.

The Greek word epiphaneia means “a manifestation or revelation”. But what is being revealed, and to whom? This is something that the Western and Eastern Church each take a different view on.