epiphany

[ ih-pif-uh-nee ]

/ ɪˈpɪf ə ni /

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See synonyms for: epiphany / epiphanies on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural e·piph·a·nies.

(initial capital letter) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.

an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity.

a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.

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Origin of epiphany

1275–1325; Middle English epiphanie<Late Latin epiphanīa<Late Greek epipháneia,Greek: apparition, equivalent to epi-epi- + phan- (stem of phaínein to appear) + -eia-y³

OTHER WORDS FROM epiphany

ep·i·phan·ic

[ep-uh-fan-ik], /ˌɛp əˈfæn ɪk/, e·piph·a·nous, adjective

Words nearby epiphany

EpiPen, epipetalous, Epiph., Epiphania, epiphanize, epiphany, epipharynx, epiphenomenalism, epiphenomenon, epiphloedal, epiphonema

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

WHAT IS THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY?

What is the Feast of the Epiphany?

The Feast of the Epiphany (often simply called Epiphany) is a Christian holiday. In the Western Church, it celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Christ (the prophesied Messiah or Savior) to the Magi (popularly known as the three wise men) and to all Gentiles (non-Jews).

In the Eastern Church, the Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus and the revelation of his divinity.

The Feast of the Epiphany is considered the twelfth and final day of the Christmas celebration.

For this reason, it is sometimes called Twelfth Day.

Many Christians observe the Epiphany as the end of the Christmas season and it is traditional to leave up Christmas decorations until this day.

In some places, the Feast of the Epiphany is considered to mark the start of Carnival season—the period of feasting and merriment before Lent.

When is the Feast of the Epiphany?

The Feast of the Epiphany is commonly observed on January 6. In some branches of the Eastern Church, it is celebrated on January 19. In either case, it is observed 12 days after Christmas.

More information and context on the Feast of the Epiphany

The word epiphany can be used in a general way to refer to “an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity,” and this is what the Feast of the Epiphany commemorates. It is among the oldest Christian holidays.

The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in different ways around the world, including with special cakes. In some places, people exchange gifts on Epiphany rather than Christmas.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Feast of the Epiphany?

How is the Feast of the Epiphany discussed in real life?

The Feast of the Epiphany is observed by many Christians as the end of the Christmas season. It is traditional to take down Christmas decorations on the day.

In Italy, however, today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Christmas because we will have the feast of the Epiphany on the 6th. The Epiphany is a public holiday in our country.

— Friar Mario Conte (@FriarMario) January 2, 2022

OMG! It's the day after the Feast of the Epiphany and I have not packed away the Christmas decorations! Serious etiquette failure!

— Ben Hider (@benhider) January 7, 2011

For everyone who dreads taking down the Christmas tree, remember that we're in the twelve days of Christmas until Epiphany on January 6th, so you have plenty of time to lay about and enjoy it✨

— 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕪𝕒'𝕤 𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕕𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟 (@_desert_bones) December 26, 2021

Try using the Feast of the Epiphany!

True or False?

The Feast of the Epiphany is considered the twelfth day of the Christmas celebration.

How to use epiphany in a sentence

She had an epiphany that day, deciding at 12 that her calling was not just to become No.
How a 12-year-old Billie Jean King decided to change the world|Liz Clarke|August 27, 2021|Washington Post
No flashes of insight, no grand epiphanies, just slow and steady deliberation over subtle details.
How I Escaped My Troubles Through Science - Issue 104: Harmony|Subodh Patil|August 25, 2021|Nautilus
More often than not, I went out again after logging my daily practice hour because I’d had some epiphany I wanted to explore.
I’m an Adult Learning to Skateboard. Let Me Explain.|jversteegh|July 29, 2021|Outside Online
Every time I’ve had an epiphany I would see the number on a bus, or on the clock— just very interesting places.
Jerome LaMaar Redefines The Art Of Dressing With The Launch Of 5:31|Blake Newby|July 23, 2021|Essence.com

He is a former oil and gas executive who nowadays leads a small nonprofit — the result of a personal epiphany — and is tackling global warming one well at a time.
Capping methane-spewing oil wells, one hole at a time|Nick Ehli|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
Richard Kurin was a 19-year-old anthropology student in India when he experienced his material culture epiphany.
We All Have a Rosebud in Our Pasts|Sam Roberts|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Zaks experienced an epiphany of sorts a couple years ago, when he was looking through a book of Tony Walton illustrations.
New York’s Greatest Show Or How They Did Not Screw Up ‘Guys and Dolls’|Ross Wetzsteon|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While watching The Ten Commandments on TV with their children for the umpteenth time, Burnett and Downey had an epiphany.
Hollywood Declares 2014 the Year of the Bible|Andrew Romano|January 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was an epiphany, this was imprinted on you, you could do anything now.
How John Lennon Rediscovered His Music in Bermuda|The Telegraph|November 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The teenager went to rehab, and then went right back to using—until he had an epiphany.
‘Glee’ Star Cory Monteith Found Dead: A Tortured Talent Gone Too Soon|Marlow Stern|July 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Their escape was made at midnight on the eve of Epiphany, 1649, all the court following in great disorder.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol X|Various
Neophytes should therefore be baptized at Easter and Pentecost alone, never at Epiphany.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6|Various
So careful is the poet to prepare both sides—the divine epiphany, and the mortal who is to behold it.
Homer's Odyssey|Denton J. Snider
He thought the lessons of the Nativity and Epiphany came as a very wholesome corrective to these tendencies.
The Church Index|William Pepperell
There is nothing of him now in Florence, save a few drawings in the Uffizi and an unfinished picture of the Epiphany.
The Story of Florence|Edmund G. Gardner

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (1 of 2)

epiphany

/ (ɪˈpɪfənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

the manifestation of a supernatural or divine reality

any moment of great or sudden revelation

Derived forms of epiphany

epiphanic (ˌɛpɪˈfænɪk), adjective

Word Origin for epiphany

C17: via Church Latin from Greek epiphaneia an appearing, from epi- + phainein to show

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (2 of 2)

Epiphany

/ (ɪˈpɪfənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

a Christian festival held on Jan 6, commemorating, in the Western Church, the manifestation of Christ to the Magi and, in the Eastern Church, the baptism of Christ

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for epiphany

Epiphany

[ (i-pif-uh-nee) ]

A festival in Christianity celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Epiphany means “a showing forth” — in this case a showing forth of Jesus to the Gentiles.

epiphany

Origin of epiphany

OTHER WORDS FROM epiphany

Words nearby epiphany

WHAT IS THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY?

What is the Feast of the Epiphany?

When is the Feast of the Epiphany?

More information and context on the Feast of the Epiphany

How is the Feast of the Epiphany discussed in real life?

Try using the Feast of the Epiphany!

Words related to epiphany

How to use epiphany in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (1 of 2)

Derived forms of epiphany

Word Origin for epiphany

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (2 of 2)

Cultural definitions for epiphany