After the 12th day of Christmas, believers take down their festive decor. But they don't let January 6—or January 19 for many Orthodox Christians who still abide by the Julian calendar—pass by without another Christmas-connected celebration.

Tied to biblical accounts of Jesus Christ's birth and baptism, the holiday of Epiphany is a chance for Christians to reflect on the nature of God's physical manifestation on Earth and pay homage to three important visitors in the biblical account of Jesus' birth.

The holiday falls during the Christmas season. But opinions differ on when that season actually ends: Christmas is observed both as one day, a 12-day period that ends on Epiphany, or an even longer season that lasts until