Every year onJanuary 6, Epiphany Day, daring swimmers young and old take their spot on piers across Greece waiting to dive into the cold waters in search of a holy cross thrown in by the local priest. The one who finds the treasured cross first emerges from the waters proud, knowing that he or she will have the“eunoia” – grace of God – for the year ahead. It is customary to honor this day with the release ofthree white doveswhich symbolize the presence of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada).
This isEpiphany Day, when Greece celebrates theBlessing of the Waters, also known as“Theophania“, which means “God emerging in the light“, or “Fota” which means “light”.
The Feast of Epiphany is thethird and last holiday of the 12 days of Christmasand officially brings the holiday season to a close, sending a message ofspiritual rejuvenationand inner cleansing. It also sends thekallikantzari– Greece’s reckless and naughty Christmas trolls – back to the dark depths of the earth, where they get back to work chopping away at the tree of life until next December. Read more about thekallikantzari and their anticshere.
Though today we imagine the Three Magi arriving in Bethlehem with their gifts on December 25th, Christmas Day following the star, historians place their visit 12 days after Christmas on January 6thor Epiphany Day, also known as Three Kings Day. Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar the kings of Persia, India,and Ethiopia visited the Nativity scene after the birth of Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the Eastern Christian tradition Epiphany or Theophany marks the baptism of Jesus.
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Why Do Greeks Celebrate Epiphany Day
The Feast of Epiphany marks thebaptism of Christ in the Jordan RiverbyJohn the Baptist. When Christ arose from the waters, he looked to the sky where the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove and God spoke from heaven. That is why we release doves in the sky on January 6.
Theophania ceremonies take place at ports across Greece, but also elsewhere in the world where the Greek Orthodox reside. I remember as a young child watching the Blessing of the Waters inTarpon Springs, Florida. I was in awe. It was like being transported back to Greece and to Kalymnos. Many Greek fishermen from Kalymnos, Symi and Halki emigrated to Tarpon Springs and continued their trade there assponge divers. Read more about theKalymnos sponge diver’s dancehere.
On this day people named Fotis, Fotini, Fotios, Fani, Theofanis, Theofania, Theoharis, Ourania, Peristera and Iordanis all celebrate theirname day. To them we wishChronia Polla!
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Feast of Fota: The Greek Traditions
Traditionally, theFeast of Fotabegins on the day before (eve) just like Christmas and New Year’s. Children here toosing special carols, the“Kalanta ton Foton”, which like the Christmas and New Year’s carols differ depending on region. Read more about thekalanta of Christmashereandthe Greek New Year’s carolshere.
Before the caroling, Greek faithful go to church. After the service, the priest, mainly in small villages would visit (and in some parts of Greece still does) and bless each house with a twig of basil dipped in holy water. It is exactly at this time that the Christmas goblins (kallikantzari) flee in fear.
As closure to the 12-day holiday period, Greek housewives used to collect theash from the fireplace(that burned non-stop for 12 days to keep away the trolls) and scatter it around the home, in the yard, the farm, the fields and in the stables tokeep all evil at bay.
According to custom, on the eve of Epiphany dayLenten foodis served.
There are many treasured traditions practiced across Greece on the eve of Theophania. On Crete, it is customary to prepare a tray of “fotokolyva”, an offering traditionally for the deceased made of seeds, beans and nuts. The treat is instead shared with the animals and also dispersed as a symbol ofprosperity.
In the past Greeks would also “wash the icons” on the eve of Fota. Like many Greek practices, the Fota traditions too date back toancient times. Across Greece, happenings like the“rougatsia” of Thessaly, the “arapides” of Kavala, the “tzamalaria” of Pella, the “babougera” of Drama, the“momogeri” of the Pontic Greeks, the “decorated camel” of Halkidiki, or the“ragoutsaria” of Kastoriaare all human attempts to scare away evil,pleas to the divinefor protection against darkness, and revelry to welcome the transition from winter to spring andrebirth. These are also the central themes of traditionalApokria festivitiesheld ahead of Orthodox Easter. For more on where to experience theGreek carnival Apokria season readhere.
Lastly, the Feast of Fota is very much like aGreek Groundhog Day. It is believed that the winds too are ‘baptized’ on January 6. Legend has it that theweather on Epiphany Day ‘reveals’ the weather to come– of particular importance for the crops. “If the Fota are in bright in light, then waters welcome Easter” or “Joyous arid Fota and wet Easter, means food on the table for the widows, the orphans and the badly wed”.
💡Tip: A great place to celebrate Epiphany Day is in Loutraki.Rent a car 🚙 and in under an hour from Athens you’ll be there. Book a night at this favourite hotel on the seafront.
Theofania: Why it Concerns Us All
The ceremonial throwing of the cross into the sea as dozens dive into the icy waters to retrieve it is a symbolic “baptism” which gives us the chance to wash away all darkness,seek forgiveness for past failings, and emerge in the light renewed and spiritually rejuvenated.
It is an “inner cleansing” where welet go of things that burden usand look forward to anew beginning. This symbolic purge is necessary as it gives us a chanceto make changes for a better life. Italso brings us closer to the divine in ourselves.
It is believed that the traditions of Epiphany date back to ancient times. Back then in order to make sure the Goddess Athena would watch over her city Athens; Athenians would clean Athena’s temple on the Acropolis and carry her statue in procession to the sea in Palio Faliro, where theywould wash it and as part of the ancient “plyntiria” feast. The idea was to give her powers anew lease on life.
♫ I end today’s bright post with atraditional Epiphany carolfrom thePeloponnese“Irthane ta Fota kai ta Fotera”(The Fota Have Arrived) sung by school children directed by the greatDomna Samiou. Read more aboutSamiou’s treasured workhere.
Chronia Polla! May there be light in the hearts of all.
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