According to Wikipedia (yes, I admit to being an unabashed
fan), “An epiphany (from the ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, ‘manifestation,
striking appearance’) is an experience of sudden and striking realization.”
Having just sent the final edits of my latest Chief
Inspector Andreas Kaldis’ novel off to my publisher for printing, I suppose I
could use one of those for what will be Andreas’ next adventure. But this is not about that sort of epiphany.
I’m talking about the holiday—which has the identical root
in Greek—that for most Christians generally falls on January 6th (tomorrow) and
concludes the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The Greeks usually refer to it as the “Feast of Theophany” (“God shining
forth” or “divine manifestation”) or “Ta Fota” (“The Lights”) as it celebrates
the baptism of Christ in what is one of the three Great Feast days of the year,
ranking only behind Easter (Paska) and Pentecost. Understandably, it is also a big day for
baptisms.
In many parts of the world a Greek Orthodox priest performs
the “Blessing of the Waters.”
Traditionally, it’s done twice: Once, on the eve of the Feast (generally
at a baptismal font inside the church), and the next day at a river, sea, or
lake, where at the end of the service a priest tosses the blessed cross into
the water—launching a host of young men in after it in hopes of retrieving the
cross and receiving a special blessing from the priest that will bring a year
of good luck to the successful diver.
Epiphany is also the day for expelling kallikantzari from
your home through a blessing from the priest and the sprinkling of Theophany
blessed holy water. Kallikantzari are half-beast, half human, bad-spirited
gremlins that try to slip into your house through a chimney to wreak havoc and
mischief amid your home, livestock, and food between Christmas and Epiphany.
During that twelve-day period virtually every Greek in one
way or another engages in some superstitious practice—like wrapping a sprig of
basil around a small wooden cross and suspending it over a bowl of water—and seeks
a blessing from a priest. Ultimately,
the goal is to expel the kallikantzari before they can do serious damage, like saw
through the huge tree on which rests the foundations of the world.
Where the kallikantzari go for the rest of the year to do
their harm is anybody’s guess. Though
from the way things are going in Greece these days, perhaps someone should
think about checking out Parliament.
Happy New Year, everyone—especially our newest MIE
contributors, Caro and Lisa. All the
best in 2013 and far, far beyond.
Jeff—Saturday
