Of the Magi, a witch and frozen baths: Epiphany across Europe

Epiphany, or "Day of Kings", is a Christian holiday that celebrates the adoration of the Magi before Jesus, symbol of the manifestation of Christ to the whole world. In Greek, “epiphanein” indeed means “to make visible, to show” or even “what appears”. In France, Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas, on January 6. The celebration of Epiphany has passed through the centuries, losing its exclusively religious character. In France, tradition has it that on this feast day of the "wise men" - even if the Gospels only speak of "wise men" -, depending on the region, we share a cake or crown of kings in which is hidden a bean.

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In France, galette or crown of kings

According to Nadine Cretin, historian of the festivals, we find the trace of the first puff pastry galette in 1311, in Amiens, thanks to Robert II de Fouilloy, bishop of Amiens. It is then a puff pastry without filling. “On the eve of the Kings, a real bean (the legume) was locked in there to designate a king, she tells Le Figaro Madame. It was not until the ^16th century that the small object became a coin, then other lucky symbols in Saxony porcelain in 1875”. The symbolism, which consists in electing a king, would find its origin in the Roman Saturnalia festival, during which a king was elected with bones or dice.

Today, it is often the youngest person who hides under the table to designate the distribution of shares. But ⁱⁿ the 19th century, the custom was different. A chairman - the oldest and most respected person among the guests - was appointed. The president would then ask the youngest boy in the family, who was on the table, to whom to offer the first slice of the cake. The child replied "for the good Lord" and the share was set aside to be given to the first poor man who came to ask for it.

Elsewhere in Europe, the traditions and customs associated with Epiphany are very different. Overview.

In Italy, “Befana” witch, sweets and charcoal

In Italy, no galette des rois. Make way for “Befana”, a semantic deformation of the word “Epiphany” in Italian (Epifania). The legend, stemming from pre-Christian folk customs, says that this witch visits every house where children live the night before Epiphany (January 6, therefore). The latter then hang a sock near the fireplace or the window. La Befana offers gifts, chocolates and sweets to those who have been good throughout the year, and... coal to those who have not been good. Today, coal is replaced by edible black sugar or licorice.

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Often, the children can prepare for this nice witch, on the eve of Epiphany, in a plate, a tangerine or an orange as well as a glass of wine... which have obviously disappeared the next morning.

During Epiphany, also a public holiday in Italy, shop windows and houses are often decorated with these intriguing witches taking the form of an old woman with a long nose and a pointed chin, traveling on her broomstick and carrying a bag filled with treats. .

In Spain, parade of kings and brioche crown

In Spain, the Epiphany is particularly celebrated and January 6 is also declared a public holiday. It begins the day before, on January 5, with parades of carriages in the streets, called cabalgatas (rides). A real show for children, this parade represents the journey taken by the Three Kings who came from the East by camel, following the star to the manger where the baby Jesus was born.

On these colorful floats, the Magi Gaspard, Melchior and Balthazar, followed by riders and fantastic characters, throw sweets and treats to the children. On January 6, the Three Kings replace Santa Claus to distribute the gifts. Indeed, in Spain, it is the religious aspect that prevails at Christmas time and few gifts are distributed.

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No pancake, but a brioche crown, like what is eaten in the south of France, called "Roscón de Reyes". It is garnished with candied fruit and slivered almonds and also has a bean: either a porcelain figurine or a dried bean! Tradition has it that whoever finds it will be lucky for the coming year. Sometimes the latter also receives a crown.

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In Germany, "singers with the star", blessing of houses and cake of kings

In Germany, children dress up as Magi. They then go through towns and villages to go door to door, not to ask for sweets but to... bless the houses! Epiphany is a public holiday in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt, regions with a Catholic majority.

Accompanied by three boys wearing the star of Bethlehem, the Magi first sing hymns and then collect donations for poor countries or charities related to childhood. They are called the “Sternsinger”: the star singers. To thank donations, the little Magi bless the houses by inscribing, with chalk, a series of numbers, crosses, asterisks and letters. These are the letters C, M and B, meaning both “Christus Mansionem Benedictat” (“Christ blesses this house”) but also the initials of Caspar (Gaspard in German), Melchior and Balthazar. The “+” sign represents the cross of Christ, the numbers designate the year, and the asterisk, the star of Bethlehem.

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In some German families, we taste a Dreikönigskuchen, a king's cake without frangipane and similar to brioche. Often it is stuffed with orange and spices, symbolizing the gifts of the Magi: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

In Eastern Europe, baptism of Christ, knights and holy water

In Eastern Europe, Epiphany has a different meaning for the Orthodox. The feast, called Theophany, commemorates not the coming of the Magi, but the baptism of Christ in the Jordan. On the eve of Epiphany, after the liturgy, the priest blesses the baptismal water and sprinkles the congregation with holy water. On Epiphany, after a procession, the priest blesses water from fountains, rivers and even the sea.

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From one Eastern European country to another, customs around the blessing of the waters vary. In Romania, for the Epiphany or “Boboteaza” in the local language, at the end of religious services, the Romanians take part in impressive horse races. Before the race, a priest sprinkles the riders with holy water. Popular tradition says that on January 6, if a woman slips on ice or falls in water, she will be married within a year.

In Bulgaria, called Yordanovden, it is customary to throw a metal cross into the frozen water of lakes and rivers. The young people then dive into the water to retrieve it, and it is said that the winner will have luck and good health during the year. Sometimes the men perform the horo, a traditional Bulgarian dance...always in freezing water!