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Christmas in the Austrian Alps - Part 4 - of 4 Epiphany
Feast of Epiphany
Epiphany! - Oh great and most wonderful feast!
The holy three kings, the magi arrive from the east!
They had crossed huge wastelands, desolate and wild,
In search of a mother and her newborn child.
On Epiphany, three magi, - the holy three kings
Visit the homes and each of these wise men brings
Oriental sweet meats in small and dainty rolls,
Cinnamon crescents and coconut marzipan balls.
They write their names on doors with blessed chalk,
And like Saint Nicolas before they walk
Along the snwed-in paths behind their star;
And hail: "+Caspar+Melchior+Baltassar".
January 6th,- the Feast of Epiphany-
A Trio of children direct the festivity,
Boys of a hamlet don the garb of a king,
And knock on the homesteads gates and doors and sing:
"We are the magi, the wise men, the holy three kings.
And pay you a visit before the Vesper bells rings,
We come from far away, from the far East,-
Blessed by this homestad, its dwellers, men and beast!"
Chickens, alarmed, squeeze through the wire barrier,
The cock, calls together his harem like Chanticleer-
Confused about the time he has to crow;
Since the Lord's birthday, days began to grow-
He chants with relish to wake the community:
Wake up my hens, line up! kickereekee!
This is the Twelfth Day of Christmas- hear all! hear!
"Twelfth Christmas Day" crows Master Chantecleer.
The kings lost their cameles, thus they chant their tales,
A-foot, passing through mountainous treks and vales.
Crossing the frozen brooks, snow banks and hills,
Their royal garb does not protect from chills.
Surrounded by peasants and many a family,
That reply to their greetings eager and thankfully,
The farmer's wife with kind and motherly heart
Brings cookies for singing, ere the kings depart.
The children's voices sweet keep echoing
As they march and sing until late evening,
It ricochets through mountain steeps and dell:
"We are the three holy kings, and are wishing you well"!
Their names, inscribed on doors are meant to stay
Till they come again next year on Epiphany Day,
Meanwhile their names that mark all the doors with Crosses Three,
Bestow on the household blessing's guarantee*.
With these names inscribed on doors good folks are freed
From fear of the wicked and cunning witches Druid,
They protect the people from every ill and harm,
And keep the tenants' hearts for the Christ Kind warm.
The Trio's sweet sing-song keeps on echoing,
As they keep marching and singing till evening,
It ricochets across mountain steeps and the dell:
"We are the three holy kings, and are wishing you well!".
Their mission takes them oft through ice and sleet,
And blessed are the people whom the three wise men meet,-
A fodder cart after sun set the kings will board
To ride back to the East - to proclaim the Lord!
+Caspar +Melchior +Balthasar!
+Christus +Mansionem +Benedicat
Chickens, alarmed, squeeze through the wire barrier,
The cock, calls together his harem like Chanticleer-
Confused about the time he has to crow;
Since the Lord's birthday, days began to grow-
He chants with relish to wake the community:
Wake up my hens, line up! kickereekee!
This is the Twelfth Day of Christmas- hear all! hear!
"Twelfth Christmas Day" crows Master Chantecleer.
The kings lost their cameles, thus they chant their tales,
A-foot, passing through mountainous treks and vales.
Crossing the frozen brooks, snow banks and hills,
Their royal garb does not protect from chills.
Surrounded by peasants and many a family,
That reply to their greetings eager and thankfully,
The farmer's wife with kind and motherly heart
Brings cookies for singing, ere the kings depart.
The children's voices sweet keep echoing
As they march and sing until late evening,
It ricochets through mountain steeps and dell:
"We are the three holy kings, and are wishing you well"!
Their names, inscribed on doors are meant to stay
Till they come again next year on Epiphany Day,
Meanwhile their names that mark all the doors with Crosses Three,
Bestow on the household blessing's guarantee*.
With these names inscribed on doors good folks are freed
From fear of the wicked and cunning witches Druid,
They protect the people from every ill and harm,
And keep the tenants' hearts for the Christ Kind warm.
The Trio's sweet sing-song keeps on echoing,
As they keep marching and singing till evening,
It ricochets across mountain steeps and the dell:
"We are the three holy kings, and are wishing you well!".
Their mission takes them oft through ice and sleet,
And blessed are the people whom the three wise men meet,-
A fodder cart after sun set the kings will board
To ride back to the East - to proclaim the Lord!
+Caspar +Melchior +Balthasar!
+Christus +Mansionem +Benedicat
+Christus +Mansionem +Benedicat
