January 6 Festivities: A Celebration of Ancient Paganism

January 6, also known as Epiphany or Three Kings' Day, is a significant date in many countries and cultures around the world. While it is commonly associated with the Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, it also has roots in pagan customs and traditions. In pagan times, January 6 marked the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the lengthening of days. It was regarded as a time of new beginnings, purification, and the renewal of life. Ancient festivities and rituals were often held to celebrate this transition. These practices varied across different regions and cultures, but common themes included fire, water, and various forms of divination.

“In the Julian calendar the twenty-fifth of December was reckoned the winter solstice, and it was regarded as the Nativity of the Sun, because the day begins to lengthen and the power of the sun to increase from that turning-point of the year. The celebrants retired into certain inner shrines, from which at midnight they issued with a loud cry, “The Virgin has brought forth! The light is waxing!” The Egyptians even represented the new-born sun by the image of an infant which on his birthday, the winter solstice, they brought forth and exhibited to his worshippers.”

Eventually, the existing solstice story may have simply been re-written as Jesus nativity, his presumed birth date of January 6 being rechristened the Festival of the Epiphany. While the carols we sing for Christmas are undeniably Christian, the tradition itself of going door-to-door singing to your neighbours comes from another pagan tradition called wassailing.

These practices varied across different regions and cultures, but common themes included fire, water, and various forms of divination. One notable pagan custom associated with January 6 is the burning of the Yule log. In ancient times, it was believed that the Yule log, traditionally a large oak tree, contained the spirit of the sun.

Why Latino Christians Treasure January 6

Christian leaders in the US on how el Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) brings them closer to their heritage and God.

Much of the global body of Christ knows January 6 as Epiphany, the church calendar’s final day of Christmas and an opportunity to remember the Magi’s early recognition of Jesus as God. In the Spanish-speaking world, this time is known as el Día de los Reyes, or Three Kings Day, and often includes presents, culinary traditions, and even visits from the wise men themselves. For a variety of reasons, the day and its festivities have been inconsistently carried on in American Latino communities.

We asked seven Latino Christians to share what el Día de los Reyes means to them, how they celebrate it today, and to what extent last year’s insurrection has affected how they’ll observe the day.

Noemi Vega Quiñones, associate director of spiritual formation and theology for InterVarsity’s Latino Fellowship, Dallas, Texas

Each January 5, children around Mexico (and Latin America and Spain) place their shoes near the nativity scene and anxiously await the gifts the reyes magos (the wise men) will bring the next morning! I grew up with my mother’s stories of her childhood in el rancho (a small pueblo) and how the reyes would bring lupita dolls and cardboard cars, filling their shoes with Mexican candies and cacahuates (peanuts). She taught us that Día de los Reyes was more than just receiving presents. It was a day that recalled the miraculous incarnation of God become man in the birth of Jesus and the miraculous escape from Herod’s genocidal decrees.

Because the attacks on the Capitol fell on January 6, the juxtaposition of el Día de los Reyes and the anniversary of the insurrection give us much to consider. El Dia de los Reyes embodies the truth that God became man to redeem humanity and that this redemption was threatened by a king that desired to have complete dominion over his people. Salvation, the king demanded, would come from him alone, not from a baby boy. The wise men knew that Jesus would be the true king of Israel. Upon seeing the guiding star stop where Jesus was, they were filled with joy and worshiped the child.

In contrast, Herod ordered every boy two years and under to be murdered for fear of losing power over the Jewish people. The violence on the US Capitol is certainly not comparable to Herod’s genocide, but perhaps there is something yet we can perceive for our times. Jesus confounds the powers and principalities of this world and declares that God has the last word on humanity’s well-being. Día de los Reyes is a time to pause and remember the miraculous gift that we have in the birth and life of Jesus. It is a reminder for Christians to check our hearts for harboring thoughts or violence against others and a call to worship Jesus alone.

Burning this log was thought to release the sun's energy and bring good fortune for the year ahead. People would gather around the fire, offering prayers and blessings while the log burned. Another common pagan custom was the practice of divination or fortune-telling. This involved performing various rituals or using special objects to gain insight into the future. For example, in Ireland, it was customary to throw objects such as shoes or stones into a body of water and observe the patterns they made. These patterns were then interpreted to predict the year's harvest or foretell the fate of individuals. While the adoption of Christianity gradually replaced these pagan practices, some elements of these customs still endure today, particularly in rural areas or regions with strong folk traditions. For example, in parts of Europe, January 6 is associated with various water-related traditions, such as the blessing of rivers or the practice of "Epiphany swimming" to symbolize cleansing and renewal. Overall, January 6 is a date that holds significance in both Christian and pagan traditions. It represents the transition from darkness to light, from winter to spring, and the potential for new beginnings. Whether celebrated as a religious feast or a time of pagan rituals and customs, it serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of cultural heritage and the enduring human desire to mark the passage of time and the cycles of life..

Reviews for "January 6: A Day of Renewal in Pagan Beliefs"

1. John - 1/5 stars - I was very disappointed with the January 6 pagan custom event. The organizers claimed it would be a unique cultural experience, but all I saw was a chaotic mess. There was no clear structure or organization, and it seemed more like a gathering of random people than a planned event. Additionally, the theme of the event was confusing and didn't seem to have any historical or cultural relevance. Overall, it was a waste of time and money, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic cultural experience.

2. Karen - 2/5 stars - The January 6 pagan custom was not what I expected. I was hoping to learn about the traditions and customs associated with this specific pagan holiday, but instead, I found it to be a mishmash of different pagan practices with no clear focus. The event lacked proper explanations or guides to help attendees understand the significance of what was happening. Additionally, the lack of crowd control made it difficult to fully enjoy the event, as it was overcrowded and chaotic. Overall, it was a confusing and overwhelming experience that left me feeling unsatisfied.

3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - Attending the January 6 pagan custom event was a complete waste of my time. It felt more like a gathering of eccentric individuals than a meaningful cultural celebration. The lack of organized activities or informative talks left me feeling bored and unengaged. Moreover, the event lacked proper facilities such as clean bathrooms and drinking water stations. I was highly disappointed in the overall experience and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a meaningful cultural event.

Uncovering the Myths and Legends Surrounding January 6 Paganism