Epiphany season First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday, but since 1970 to just before Ash Wednesday. However, the "Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices", which has received the imprimatur of John Michael D'Arcy, refers to this period as Epiphanytide, stating that "The Epiphany season extends from January 6 to Septuagesima Sunday, and has from one to six Sundays, according to the date of Easter. White is the color for the octave; green is the liturgical color for the season." Epiphany season The Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide, is in some churches recognized as a liturgical period following the Christmas season (Christmastide). It
Epiphany (holiday) during which the cross is immersed in the water, symbolizing Jesus' descent into the Jordan, and holy "myron" (chrism) is poured in, symbolic of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The next morning, after the Liturgy, the cross is removed from the vessel of holy water and all come forward to kiss the cross and partake of the blessed water. Epiphany is celebrated with a wide array of customs around the world. In some cultures, the greenery and nativity scenes put up at Christmas are taken down at Epiphany. In other cultures these remain up until Candlemas on