Epiphany (Twelfth Day)

Epiphany, n. The festival celebrated on the sixth day of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the appearance of Christ to the Magi or philosophers of the East, who came to adore Him with presents, or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Greek fathers use the word for the appearance of Christ in the world, the sense in which Paul uses the word. Sometimes called Twelfth Day.

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My #2 Daughter and I took a trip to Victoria, B.C. for a couple of days.

Along with window shopping in downtown Victoria,

we took a tour out to the Butchart Gardens to see the Christmas Display.

The Parliament Building, downtown Victoria.

Frozen Waterwheel!

Carollers!

Lighted trees.

The Gardens were decked out with scenes of the Twelve Days of Christmas!

(Please excuse the poor photos ~ I've lost my camera manual and don't know how to

take shots in the dark.)

Feel free to sing along as we discover each scene of the Carol!
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On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree!
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On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Two Turtle Doves
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On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens!
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On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Four Calling Birds!
(You can't see in the photo, but each bird has a type of telephone!)
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On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Golden Rings!
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On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six geese a laying.
(Couldn't get all the geese in the shot!)
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On the Seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans a swimming.
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On the Eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids a milking.
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On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies dancing.
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On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Ten Lords a leaping!
(Animated frogs were 'jumping' up from behind a wall ~
couldn't get them all at the same time!)
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On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...



Eleven Pipers piping.
(A long window display showed 11. I couldn't get close enough
to get them all and the darkness made them blurry. :~{
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On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Twelve Drummers drumming!
(Twelve lighted arches above the parking lot had the
last line of the song.)
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Today is Epiphany!


"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him....
they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Selected from Matthew 2