This coming Wednesday, Jan. 6, is the Day of Epiphany celebrating the arrival of the three kings — wisemen, or magi — to worship Jesus.
In the early Middle Ages the three acquired the names of Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar. Also during this time, it was customary for rich and powerful people in society to make offerings to the church of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Years later, this day became known as Twelfth Day since it comes 12 days after Christmas. You know the favorite Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas? Guess where it came from. Christmas Day is “the first day of Christmas.” Epiphany is “the twelfth day of Christmas,” ending the Christmas celebration.
More From the Pulpit articles: Additional Mark Broadhead articles
This is why my wife and I, the two congregations I serve, and many other persons keep up their Christmas decorations until after the first of the year. Christmas isn’t over until the end of Jan. 6.
I’m sure there are those who may think I am too lazy to take down my decorations (not true!). Rather, I leave them up for a purpose – the continuation of celebrating the birth of our Lord until Epiphany.
In some cultures the day of Epiphany is celebrated as enthusiastically as many celebrate Christmas Day. This is when they exchange gifts, visit one another, share in festivities. They follow the tradition of exchanging gifts as did the three magi, who arrived later than the same evening as the shepherds.
So why do we see the wisemen at the manger the night Jesus was born? Because Hollywood got it wrong. When a Christmas movie was made decades ago, the producers and directors thought it was more picturesque to show all the characters arriving at the manger at the same time.
In actuality, it probably took the magi a couple of years to travel to find the Christ Child. When you read the account of their arrival, the gospel of Matthew points out, “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.” (Matthew 2:11, New Revised Standard Version)
Yes, a house not a manger or a stable. There are several other items that support a later arrival date, but that discussion is for another time.
But you know, the important part of Christmas is not the timetable. Rather it is the fact that Jesus was born to offer forgiveness, love, grace and wholeness in our lives. He came to make us right with God.
This is the true message of Christmas, and that message lives all year ‘round.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: The true message of Christmas lives all year round