Epiphany in Our Catholic Home

Last Sunday was the first time our family has officially celebrated Epiphany.  I found a few fun things for us to do (and eat!) that I think will become new family traditions.  Here is a peak at our celebration.

Leading up to Epiphany

Star from Afar

Last month, I shared with you several of our family’s favorite ways to observe the full Christmas season.  Using our Star from Afar set, we moved the Wisemen closer and closer to the manger scene.  The kids loved looking for the star every morning and moving the Wisemen.  Last Sunday, the star was on the nativity scene and the Wisemen finished their long journey!

The little things

From Christmas Day until Epiphany, I try to find other ways to fully celebrate the season without adding a lot of extra work for me.  These things are so simple I feel silly listing them!

• Keep up the Christmas tree
• Keep playing Christmas music (I like to play it as background music all day long!)
• Keep lighting the Advent wreath (we add a white Christ candle to the center like my family did as a child)
• Keep passing a treat tray after supper
• Keep reading from our Christmas book basket

The Feast of Epiphany

House Blessing

I love the idea of a Home Blessing, but for whatever reason have never gotten around to doing it.  This year was our first year and I hope it will be a tradition that sticks.  How can we not want a little more blessing in our home?

I wasn’t crazy about any of the printable blessings I found online, so, being one who sometimes takes the difficult road, I made my own.  It includes a chalk blessing (in case you forget to ask your priest to bless your chalk – not that I speak from experience!).

I also forgot to get holy water at church (we’ve been out for a while), so we’ll do the sprinkling portion later too.

Epiphany Home Blessing

Special Meal

Call me a fun hater, but I really don’t care for cake.  That is, unless it is rich, moist and smothered in whipped cream and chocolate.  A King Cake just does not trip my trigger.

So I went back to the drawing board.  I figured I could make something that looked like a crown or a star without a lot of extra work to fit the occasion.

The Crown

I find breads easy to shape into important liturgical symbols.  Remembering that and incorporating some leftover Christmas ham, I ended up making a Ham, Broccoli, Spinach and Cheese Ring/Crown.  The kids ate it up, despite me hiding the veggies in it.

I simply shaped my homemade bread dough ( I made a milk bread dough, but a pizza or store bought frozen dough would work too) into a long rectangle, spread the filling down the length of it, cut slits down the side,”braided” them, and then shaped it into a ring.  It isn’t the most beautiful after it bakes, but the kids thought it a fun lunch.  (Here is another example of how flexible bread dough can be:  Immaculate and Sacred Heart pizzas.)

The Star

I used the technique outlined in this recipe I found online (Spiced Apple Star Bread), but used this recipe (Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid) because that’s what I had on hand.   I was a little intimidated, but it is easier than it looks.  The kids said the cranberries were a little tart, and I have to agree.  Next time I’ll make it with cherries.

 

It’s been awhile since our family has had a good liturgical celebration (not counting Christmas, of course), so the kids were delighted with the festivities.  I think we’ll be doing it all again next year and for years to come.

I’d love to know your special Epiphany traditions?

Other posts for your reading pleasure:

January Feast Table

The Nourishing Routines Project

Habits, Routines, and Schedules…Oh my!

Must Reads for Young Catholics