Epiphany (holiday) the beginning of "zapusty" or carnival time, when "pączki" (doughnuts) and "chrust" (Angel wings) are served. In Portugal, Epiphany, January 6, is called "dia dos Reis" (Day of the Kings), during which the traditional "Bolo Rei" (King cake) is baked and eaten. Plays and pageants are popular on this day, and parents often hold parties for their children. Epiphany is also a time when the traditional Portuguese dances known as "Mouriscadas" and "Paulitos" are performed. The latter is an elaborate stick dance. The dancers, who are usually men but may be dressed as women, manipulate sticks or staves (in imitation
Epiphany (holiday) cold water to retrieve the cross, and whoever retrieves it is believed to be blessed during the whole year. These are very festive gatherings with lots of spectacles attending the sites. Special food jelly from pork and beef meat and bones called "pacha" (пача) or "pivtii" (пивтии) is prepared the day before, but served on the day after Epiphany, together with warm local brandy, rakija (ракија). Epiphany is a non-working day for the Orthodox believers in Macedonia. In Malta, Epiphany is commonly known as "It-Tre Re" (The Three Kings). Until the 1980s, January 6 was a public holiday, but today