Today is The Epiphany, or, for some, it was yesterday. Then again, for others Christmas tomorrow, or in a couple of weeks. But for most in this part of the world today is the Epiphany. It's also known as Theophany or Three Kings' Day, a day that celebrates the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. We celebrate the visit of the Magi to the Christ child.

We remember their gifts and some follow the tradition of chalking the door. Take chalk and write 20 + C+M + B + 20 above the entrance to your home. The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi, Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “20” at the end mark the year.

And today is celebrated in different ways around the world. In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve in a similar way to St Nicklaus. She visits children to fill their socks with presents if they are good, or a lump of coal if they are bad. Some say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping away of the problems of the year. 

Christian legend had it that Befana was approached by the Wise Men a few days before the birth of Jesus. They asked for directions to where Jesus was but Befana didn’t know. The Wise Men invited her to join them on the journey to find Jesus but she declined, saying she was too busy with her housework. Later, Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the Wise Men and Jesus. She was not able to find them, so to this day, Befana is searching for the baby. 

And also on this day ...
1907 – Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare centre for working class children in Rome. 
1929 – Mother Teresa arrives in Calcutta, India, to begin her work among India's poorest and sick people.

Today’s pictures- evening exercise around town. Not a soul to be seen ....