Catholic Epiphany

The Feast of the Three Kings or otherwise Epiphany Day is celebrated in Austria on January 6 and, as in most Catholic countries, is an official holiday, a non-working day.

This holiday is established in memory of the worship of the baby Christ by three pagan kings-magicians (in the Orthodox tradition - pagan priests-magicians), who brought their gifts: gold, incense and myrrh - to the manger of the newborn Jesus. In memory of the Epiphany to the pagans in Catholic churches on this day, a solemn service is performed, during which sacrifices are made to Christ: as a king - gold, as a god - incense, as a man - myrrh.

At midnight after the evening mass, a family dinner is arranged. Almost no holiday in Austria does not do without special dishes, so this evening on the table necessarily present "Christmas log".

In the old days, it was customary to dress up in three kings and go home. It was a good idea to treat such clothes. This tradition continues to this day. With songs and poems about the three kings, the birth of Christ, as well as wishes for health, specially dressed people go to their homes. Someone (mostly children), dressed in long white shirts and with crowns on his head, depicts three kings. They should be given sweets and money. Then they will draw signs on the door of the house (for example, 20+C+M+B+05). This inscription comes from the pagan custom of protecting against evil spirits. For a long time it symbolized the first letters of the names of the three kings (Caspar, Melchior and Baltasar), but later another interpretation was strengthened, namely, the first letters of the phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat”, which means “Christ would approve this house”.

The festival of the three kings in Austria is associated with an ancient ritual action called Perchten. In modern Austria, it is no longer a superstition, but rather a tourist attraction. According to legend, from December 31 to January 6 with her retinue, surrounded by children who died before baptism at night marches Bercht / Percht (hence the current female name Bertha). In fact, Bercht is both evil and good. It is difficult to see her, but she, depending on how the children behaved, brings gifts or punishes.