Epiphany Meaning | Definitions & Date

The word epiphany has two main meanings:

• A special day in the Christian religion, usually on January 6, celebrating the visit of the Three Kings (Wise Men) to baby Jesus (e.g., “Many Christians celebrate Epiphany with a family meal”)
• A moment when you suddenly realize or understand something (e.g., “I had an epiphany and realized that I should follow my passion”)

What is Epiphany?

In Western Christian traditions, Epiphany is the day when Christians remember the visit of the Magi (the Three Kings or Three Wise Men) to baby Jesus. This marks an important occasion because it was the first time Jesus was shown or “revealed” to the wider world. The word “epiphany” comes from the ancient Greek “epiphanea,” meaning “manifestation.”

In Eastern Christian traditions, Epiphany, or Theophany, mainly commemorates the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, when he was revealed as the Son of God.

In countries where this day is an important, widely celebrated festival, it often has another name. For instance, in Spain and Latin America, it is called Día de Reyes (“Day of the Kings”), an important occasion when children receive presents and families enjoy a special meal that includes a traditional “king cake.”

When is Epiphany?

In the Catholic Church, Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January 6. However, in the United States, Catholic Epiphany church services (Mass, etc.) are usually held on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, following the official liturgical calendar.

Other Western Christian churches, such as the Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches, also typically mark Epiphany on January 6. However, in some countries, Epiphany celebrations and church services may be moved to the nearest Sunday, as in the United States.

In Eastern Christian churches, Epiphany—also known as Theophany—may be celebrated on January 19 (e.g., in the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches).

What is an epiphany?

An epiphany is a moment of sudden realization or insight. For example, when a person sees a situation in a new way, becomes clear about a change they need to make, or has a “eureka” moment that leads to a discovery or breakthrough.

When using “epiphany” like this to mean “realization,” follow standard capitalization rules. But when referring to the holiday, always capitalize the “e.” Using QuillBot’s Grammar Checker will help you to correctly capitalize proper nouns like the holiday Epiphany.

Frequently asked questions about Epiphany

What is the Feast of the Epiphany?

The Feast of the Epiphany is an alternative term for the Christian holiday Epiphany.

QuillBot’s free AI Chat can answer your questions about the Feast of the Epiphany.

What is Theophany?

Theophany is an alternative term for the Christian holiday Epiphany used in Eastern Christian traditions (such as the Greek Orthodox Church), where the celebrations remember the baptism of Jesus rather than the visit of the Three Kings.

QuillBot’s free AI Chat can answer your questions about the Theophany or Epiphany.