Epiphany Festival: Highly sacred water and old traditions in Bavaria

in Bavaria, the Epiphany Water will be consecrated to the Epiphany Festival on January 6th, a Tradition that has existed for centuries. Believers bring empty bottles to take home the highly sacred water, the cathedral rector Marc-Ailko Aris as "highly sacred water". The consecration of the water is only on Holy Three King and Easter, and this custom is cultivated in many Bavarian parishes.

The festival, also known as the day of the appearance of the Lord, intends to three urs scenes in the Christian tradition: the visit of the wise wise from the Eastern on the crib, the transformation of water into wine at the wedding of Cana and the baptism of Jesus. The Epiphany water is said to remind Jesus' baptism and protect believers from evil. Historically, the water was used in combination with the signs of the cross to offer protection against fear and despair.

Epiphany water and its importance

Customs expert Dorothea Steinbacher describes that in many Alpine regions the Epiphany water was combined with consecrated Epiphany salt. This salt was used for various purposes, including protection against sudden death or for travel. On Sunday the Epiphany Water is consecrated in the Freising Cathedral, and salt is added to the water for durability.

The star singers who collect donations for a good cause are also present at the consecration. Believers who miss the consecration can take consecration in the Freising Cathedral, incense and blessing stickers for a small donation.

The celebrations for the festival of the Three Kings have deep roots in Christianity and are reminiscent of the arrival of the three wise from the East - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar - which symbolically stand for the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. The legend formation around the Three Kings has developed over the centuries, originally mentioned as a starter in the Gospel of Matthew and was later presented as kings.

Traditionally, the Three Kings bring with them such as gold, frankincense and myrrh, which symbolize different meanings. In addition to their spiritual importance, the Three Kings also act as a protective cartridge for individuals and professions. The relics of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral are an important place of veneration, and the Epiphany not only marks the end of Christmas, but also the beginning of further festivals.

The tradition of star singing, in which disguised children pull from door to door to collect for charitable purposes, goes back to the 16th century and has been funded by the Dreikönigssingen campaign since 1959, which actively supports the social commitment of young people. With the Epiphany Radition C+M+B, divine protection for households is also symbolized.

The festival still has profound religious importance and cultural heritage, even if it is a challenge to continue these traditions in a changing society, such as customsjahr.de noted.

For many believers, the Epiphany Festival remains a time of joy, reflection and community.