Celebrating Epiphany In Austria: Traditions And Customs

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated globally on 6 January. In Austria, it is marked by singing and graffiti. Children dress as the Three Magi and sing Christmas hymns, while the initials of the three kings – Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – are written in chalk above doorways in exchange for a small donation to charity.

Sternsinger: children dress as the Three Magi and sing Christmas hymns

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated globally on 6 January each year. In Austria, it is a public holiday, and people celebrate with singing and graffiti. Sternsinger is a tradition where children dress up as the Three Magi (or Three Wise Men) and sing Christmas hymns. They go around to houses, and in return for a small donation to charity, they write the initials of the three kings – Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – in chalk above the doorway.

Chalk initials: the initials of the three kings are written in chalk above doorways

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated on 6 January each year. In Austria, it is a bank holiday and is marked by singing and graffiti. Specifically, the initials of the three kings – Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – are written in chalk above the doorways of houses. In return, a small donation is made to a designated charity. This tradition is known as Sternsinger, and children dress up as the Three Magi and sing Christmas hymns.

Three Kings Day: the eve of the day, children put grass in a shoebox under their beds

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated on 6 January each year. In Austria, it is a bank holiday and is known as 'Heilige drei Könige' or Three Kings Day. The eve of the day is marked by children putting grass in a shoebox under their beds.

The day itself is celebrated with singing and graffiti. Children travel around dressed as the Three Magi, singing Christmas hymns. The initials of the three kings – Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – are written in chalk above the doorways of houses, in return for a small donation to charity.

Epiphany commemorates two events recorded in the Bible: the three wise men's visit to baby Jesus, and Jesus's baptism. The holiday celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, as represented by the Magi.

The Bible: Epiphany commemorates two events recorded in the Bible

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated globally on 6 January each year. The Bible: Epiphany commemorates two events recorded in the Bible: the three wise men's visit to baby Jesus and Jesus' baptism. The arrival of the Three Wise Men symbolises the tradition of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, as represented by the Magi. The initials of the three kings – Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – are written in chalk above the doorway of houses, in return for a small donation to a designated charity.

In the English-speaking world, Epiphany is known as 'Three Kings Day'. Interestingly, the Bible doesn't mention how many wise men there were – just that three gifts were given and that they came from the east. The common consensus is that there were between two and twenty wise men. They were likely to have been Zoroastrian priests.

Epiphany is derived from the Greek word 'epiphaneia', meaning manifestation. In religious use, the term means the appearance of an invisible divine being in a visible form. The celebration of the Epiphany began in the Eastern Church and included a celebration of Christ's birth. However, by the 4th century AD, the various calendar reforms had moved the birth of Christ to 25 December and the church in Rome began celebrating 6 January as Epiphany. Armenian Orthodox Christians still celebrate the birth of Christ on 6 January as their Church was established before Rome made the date change.

Christian holiday: Epiphany is celebrated by Christians globally on 6 January

Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated globally on 6 January. It commemorates two events recorded in the Bible: the three wise men's visit to baby Jesus, and Jesus' baptism. In Austria, the holiday is celebrated with singing and graffiti. Children travel around dressed as the Three Magi, singing Christmas hymns. The initials of the three kings, Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, are written in chalk above the doorways of houses, in return for a small donation to a designated charity.

The celebration of Epiphany began in the Eastern Church and included a celebration of Christ's birth. However, by the 4th century AD, calendar reforms had moved the birth of Christ to 25 December, and the church in Rome began celebrating 6 January as Epiphany. Armenian Orthodox Christians still celebrate the birth of Christ on 6 January, as their Church was established before Rome made the date change.

Epiphany is one of the three major Christian celebrations, along with Christmas and Easter. It is always celebrated on 6 January and commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the Magi, or the three wise men. In some countries, it may be known as 'Three Kings Day'. The Bible doesn't mention how many wise men there were, just that three gifts were given and that they came from the east. The common consensus is that there were between two and twenty wise men. They were likely to have been Zoroastrian priests.

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