Epiphany

Today is January 6. Epiphany Day. Ukrainian Christmas. The day of the Kings (I know, Magi, but here they say Kings). The day we take down the Advent Calendar.

It’s Wife’s Father’s Saint day. He learned at age 5, while attending the village school for the first time, that his first name was NOT Stephan, but rather EPIPHANIUS. You can imagine the trauma as the classmates made up a song honoring little Epiphanius.

The priest could name a newly baptized child whatever he wanted. Though the parents chose Stephan, when baptism came around (near May 13, after the melting of winter snows) the priest chose that “blessed” name.

Needless to say, as soon as Father-in-law had the chance, he became Epi Bilak. He chose a name he wanted.

Today’s Epiphany Day. Brother and Sisters Bilak will make bread CROWNS… Six buns baked in a circle, one of which hides a porcelin king. He who finds it (without breaking a tooth) is crowned for the day.

So we celebrate the day with a fun tradition, tinged with a bit of sadness. But Hope states that Epi has received the crown he always wanted and a new name. One made for eternity.