What an idea!!!!... to write about Epiphany on Epiphany's day!
As usual we need to take a few steps back (feel free to use my time machine) and learn from the past.
In fact my time machine has gone only in the past so far, but I'm confident it will bring me to the future some time...in the future.
Ok enough of word puns and let's get to to facts. What do you know about Epiphany? If you are not Christian, you have probably learned it means a sudden great idea. An illuminating realization or discovery, enlightenment that will bring you to awe or wonder. And that is correct. However the origins of the word are old as the Christianity itself.
6th January AD 1, more precisely 12 days after Jesus Christ was born there was the presentation of Christ in the Temple. That is the moment when 3 wise man (Magi) bring the gifts to Jesus new born child and have a manifestation of divine. An appearance, apparition, enlightenment.
Today faith is a matter of ideas and personal choice. So whatever God you believe in, He is your enlightenment. If you don't believe in any God, you believe in ideas. Enlightening idea is...Epiphany.
See how it all falls together? The word itself is Latin epiphania, derived from Greek epiphàneia meaning apparition.
A popular synonym of Epiphany is Befana. What is that? The right question is WHO is that.
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| A Befana |
Just as you can see in the photo, a Befana is an old, ugly, but generous lady from a fantastic world of fantasy that comes down the chimney the night before Epiphany and brings sweets and gifts to the children. Well at least to the good ones! The ones who have been bad get only the coal. So if you have been good, leave a big sock on your chimney in the evening of the 5th of January and expect to find some sweets in the morning, on Epiphany!
In Italy there is an expression for an ugly and u unkempt woman: Befana. Don't ask me how come the wise man became a woman and ugly too! What I care about is that she brings gifts, just as Magi did, she is a witch and even better: she flies!!! On a broom, but I'm sure all the Harry Potter lovers will appreciate that.
So Happy Epiphany from a dance group of little witches of Bologna, Italy!
Ps- I am dancing on this video too and you can find me easily: the one with Panama hat that, just as little witch of Hogwarts - Hermione, is able to be in two places at the same time!
HOCUS POCUS!
