söndag, januari 05, 2014

The thirteen days after Christmas.

Why do we celebrate Epiphany?
The thirteen days after Christmas. Christmas is almost over and the calendar still shows a red day. But what are we really celebrating?

Epiphany celebrated on January 6.

Epiphany,  a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6, thirteen days after Christmas. It is the last big weekend days in the church Christmas celebrations.
According to the Swedish church, it was after a long hike as the three wise men found the stable with baby Jesus in the manger. It happened at Epiphany.
A small Christian group in Eastern Europe began in the 200's celebrate Epiphany, the revelation date. They celebrated that Jesus through baptism become the son of God.
It was in the 300's AD as western Christendom began to celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25.

Staffan Sångare  (star boys) with Christmas goat
Nås, Dalarna, Mars 1917.
Photo: Erik Thor, the Nordic Museum.

Epiphany commemorates the three wise men's visit to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.
In the Swedish peasant society wandering star boys around the villages and erected a play that was based on the Bible story of the star of Bethlehem. These star boys is the origin of our time star boys.

Staffan Sångare (star boys) with Christmas goat, 
Nås, Dalarna, 1917.
Photo: Erik Thor, the Nordic Museum
Epiphany on January 6 is celebrated in Scandinavia in remembrance of the Magi 's visit to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus .
In some parts of Sweden came zodiac boys or Staffan singers already on Boxing Day. Elsewhere they showed up on Twelfth Night , beginning on the eve of Epiphany . In the cities begging in this way " djäknarna " (latin school students ) together to support themselves during the Christmas break . In rural areas, young people gathered together for a joint birthday party.

In the Swedish and Nordic tradition exemplifies stjärngosse trains to religious , playful and folklore mixed in the celebrations. " Stjärngossevägen trains " can be seen as a form of popular theater . Several festivals are ritually ironic and playful touches , so even in Twelfth Night.

The story depicts the three wise men who led the Star of Bethlehem traveled to the Infant Jesus manger. According to the story offered up the gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts. In folk traditions were named the three wise men as Kaspar , Melchior and Balthasar and was said to represent Europe, Africa and Asia.

The three wise men were central figures , dressed in sugar-loaf -shaped cones and white shirts . A sooty and horrible Herod with his soldiers , like a Christmas goat made ​​of violent outcome if he was dissatisfied with the reward , were included in the trains.

Listen to Staffansångare

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