Epiphany is celebrated in different ways around the world and for many symbolizes the end of Christmas. But within some phalanxes, for example the Orthodox Christian, Christmas is still celebrated during the Epiphany.
This is, for example, why Ukraine changed the date of Christmas during the war with Russia to December 25. This is because they want to break with the Russian Church, which is traditionally Orthodox.
The celebrations in Sweden are winding down
In Sweden, the Thirteenth Weekend celebration had a much bigger place in the past. People, mostly young men, who were dressed as star boys, moved between different farms and acted out Bible stories. In exchange, they got food and drink to feast on later in the evening.
– That type of celebration no longer exists in the country except on the archipelago island of Möja, in principle. It’s a bit like a carnival there, says ethnologist and tradition expert Kättström Höök.
What do you think of the future of Epiphany if we no longer celebrate it, and also become an increasingly secular country?
– Traditions have always changed. In the Middle Ages, we had significantly more holidays, but they were removed in the 18th century in a major purge, she says.
– We’ll have to see how this will turn out. When it no longer fulfills any function, things can happen.
Star boys do not belong to lucia
The star boys are today more connected to lucia, but from the beginning they belonged to the Epiphany. They were originally three, to symbolize the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus after the birth.
But nowadays they are mainly associated with Lucia – and now they come in hundreds.
– It’s about Stockholm’s merchants wanting to speed up the Christmas trade in 1927. That’s how they initiated a big lucia parade, where a lot of stars went. It was a great success and since then the star boys would rather be associated with Lucia than the thirteenth day, says Kättström Höök.
But what are we actually celebrating in Sweden then? SVT tries to sort out the fortunes surrounding the Epiphany in the video above.