1. We are still celebrating!!
The Christmas Season
We are still celebrating!!
Discuss what kids know about this famous story of the Christmas season

2. Is your tree already put away?
Are the ornaments carefully boxed and stored?
Is your nativity set in the closet?
Are your outside lights wound up and put away?
OR are you still celebrating the birth of Jesus?
Our Church is!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Feasts of the Christmas Season
In today’s church calendar, there are always three Sundays after Christmas that have their own special feasts:
1st Sunday: Feast of the Holy Family (who are they?)
2nd Sunday: Epiphany (what is this?)
3rd Sunday: Baptism of Jesus
Then we begin Ordinary Time again
Here are some other feast days of the Christmas season:
Saint Stephen (Dec. 26) (You do remember him?)
Feast of St. John the Apostle
Feast of the Holy Innocents (who are they?)
( Dec. 28)
January 1: Solemnity of Mary
January 4: Elizabeth Ann Seton
January 5: Saint John Neumann
January 6: Feast of the Epiphany (WHAT? But that was last Sunday????)

4. The Twelve Days of Christmas
Originally, Christmas was celebrated for 12 days and the Christmas season always ended on January 6, which is the feast of the Epiphany
This is confusing!!!
If you want to know about what the Church celebrates when, you can always use a liturgical calendar. (Who remembers when the church year begins?)

5. Liturgical Calendar

6. Feast of the Ephiphany Also called: Adoration of the Magi
Feast of the Three Kings/Wise Men/Astrologers
Little Christmas
We can read this story in Matthew’s gospel
Matthew 2: 1-12 (Read it NOW)

7. But what is an epiphany?
An epiphany is a manifestation or a showing of something.
What was Matthew trying to show when he wrote this story?
To understand that, it is helpful to know
Who was Matthew’s audience?

8. JEWISH CHRISTIANS
Matthew was writing for newly converted Jews (commonly called Jesus Jews or Jewish Christians)
He was telling them that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.
BUT the three kings were “from the east”
They were not Jews…they were Gentiles.
SO WHAT? IS THAT IMPORTANT? YES!!!!

9. Jesus came for ALL people and not just the Jews
This is what is being manifest or
shown in the story

10. Astrologers People who try to draw conclusions by studying the stars
Rising of a new star in ancient times meant a new king was born
It also meant an official visit by a royal person to his realm…it was a public showing

11. Interesting things about this feast from Catholic tradition
The kings symbolize ALL people.
The kings had names and the gifts were symbolic

12. Melchior Was old and white haired Brought the GOLD
Gold is symbolic of kingship
Jesus deserves gold because he is a king

13. Casper Young (or younger) Brought the frankincense
Represents divinity because when it is burned in prayer offerings, the smoke goes up to God

14. Balthazar Traditionally this king is dark skinned He brought the myrrh
Myrrh was used to anoint dead bodies to keep them from smelling
This gift symbolizes Jesus’ humanity

15. So…think about your nativity set: also called a creche
Is yours in keeping with tradition?
Are your three kings correctly depicted?

16. Good thing the kings did not feel like this
Good thing the kings did not feel like this! Jesus came for all of us…we are therefore already “involved.”