The 12th day of Christmas will

be observed today at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville

with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the feast of the Epiphany

beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A traditional "burning

of the greens" will follow the service, a custom which marks the

close of the Christmas season.

According to the Rev. Bob Hudak,

pastor at the Church of the Nativity, the burning of the greens is an

Anglican tradition which traces its origins back to an agrarian society.

The greens, in essence, are being returned to the earth. A small amount

of greenery will be burned symbolically, and the live fir tree which graced

the sanctuary of the church, will be planted outside, Hudak said.

This is the congregation's

first Christmas in its new building.

Hudak's research revealed a

Christian observance on Jan. 6 occurred as early as the end of the second

century in Egypt.

"The name Epiphany is

derived from the Greek word meaning manifestation or appearing. In the

Anglican tradition, this feast is also called the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles, a reference to the story of the wise men from the east,"

Hudak explained.

Eastern rite churches recognize

the Epiphany as the anniversary of the Baptism of Christ. It is on this

day that holy water is blessed, a ritual which takes place on Holy Saturday,

the eve of Easter Sunday, in the Catholic Church.

The eve of the Epiphany is

often called Twelfth Night, with the actual day referred to, not surprisingly,

as Twelfth Day. In England, the queen commemorates the day by offering

gold, frankincense and myrrh, at the altar in the Chapel Royal at Saint

James's Palace.

Everyone is welcome to attend

the Sunday evening service at the Church of the Nativity, which is at

130 Antioch Road. This church is part of the 93 parishes in the Diocese

of Atlanta ( www.episcopal-atl.org ) and a member of the worldwide

Anglican Communion.

To contact Hudak at the church

office, phone 770-460-6390 or e-mail him at [email protected] .