Show EPIPHANY TIME TI TIMEr E OF o GIFT GIFT- I r GIVING I ING My Daily Prayer This Year Y car Threshold of a New Year Epiphany being the time of gift- gift giving in many lands presents are associated with the Wise Men and their gift-bearing gift satellites According to Spanish legend the Wise Men pass through Spain each year on Epiphany Eve as they jour jour- journey journey journey ney to Bethlehem to pay homage to the Christ Child Children envisioning envision envision- envisioning envisioning ing the procession of the Magi wend wend- wending wending wending ing its way across the horizon the horizon the set gem-set crowns and blazing torches melting with the sunset sunset place place their shoes on on- window sills and balconies before going to bed The shoes are filled with hay for the Wise Mens Men's horses on Epiphany morning the hay is gone and toys and sweet sweet- sweetmeats sweetmeats swee meats overflow such receptacles I was cleaning house when the Wise Men stopped to inquire how I Inear near they were to Bethlehem Be Be- I fana knew nothing about Bethlehem nor had she heard of the Holy In In- Infant Infant Infant fant whom the Magi were seeking so she finished her sweeping and went to bed But could not sleep the regal cortege which had passed her door the bright Star which gleamed in the sky and her own premonitions haunted her so started for Bethlehem at midnight on Epiphany Eve Alas the magic hour had passed and although has wandered ever since she has never found her herway h herway r way to Bethlehem That is why La brings toys and confections to Italian children on Epiphany Eve and Russian Ba- Ba bouska holds a candle to the face of each sleeping child while she slips a present under his pillow pillow hoping hoping that some day she will find the Babe of Bethlehem |