The Real Meaning Of Holiday Epiphany
Most people are too distracted thinking about Christmas sales and promos, they tend to forget the celebration of Epiphany. Epiphany is the time after Christmas when the 3 Magi visited the Child Jesus. Back then, the Epiphany celebration had the twelve days Christ’s birth when the church celebrates Christ being shown as the Light of the world and remembers the journey of the three wise men.
Families in countries different from the US start the Epiphany celebration by remembering others on St. Stephens Day. St. Stephen’s Day is on December 26 and commemorates Stephen, Christian faith’s first martyr. Family Bible reading on the 26th of December might include his life story in Acts 6, 7, & 8.
Stephen was stoned to death because of his beliefs about the revelation of Christ in the world. In the Book of Acts, he was known as the the first martyr of Christianity. For hundreds of years, Christians have remembered his strong devotion on December 26. It is a time to show unselfish love and care for the helpless, the unwanted, and the unvalued.
As a family, you might choose a needy family or local group to help the day after Christmas. When most families are shopping the after-christmas sales, you can make an impact on your local community by taking a meal or gifts to a family in need.
In Britain and Canada, this day is called Boxing Day, an official holiday in Britain. When my kids first heard of Boxing Day, they thought it was a celebration of those who box as a sport. They were surprised at the true meaning of Boxing Day.
On this day,food boxes are delivered to the ones in need. In the past these were given to workers from their masters. The spirit of Wenceslaus is shown so that the whole community may join in and celebrate the manifestation of the Good News of Christ’s birth.
Churches usually organize Boxing Day to specifically serve the physical and spiritual needs of their fellow men and thus show that Word of God requires good deeds to your neighbors. Boxing Day is one of those days where you can see these good acts being done.
Kerry Beck desires to offer you her free Advent activities for your family’s Christmas Celebration this season. Her book also provides the meanings of the words to 12 days of Christmas song.
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