The Epiphany again

Some people get into a terrible flap after the Epiphany, and six years out of seven they write to us to say that we have got the readings wrong. So this post really ought to appear every year.

In religious parts of the world the Epiphany is celebrated when it always has been: on the 6th of January, when good children get presents from the Kings. In more commercial parts of the world the Epiphany is moved to the Sunday after New Year’s Day, so that the Twelve Days of Christmas become the Eight Days or the Fourteen Days.

The reason for all the panic is that a day such as Saturday 8 January 2022 has different readings depending on where you are. In religious countries (including England and Wales) it is 8 January, the second day after the Epiphany. In commercial countries (including Scotland and the USA) it is Saturday after Epiphany Sunday, the sixth day after the Epiphany.

Here is a complete table of the days after the Epiphany, so that you can see where you are.

Day	Epiphany on Epiphany	Epiphany on Sunday	Epistle	Gospel
First day	7 January	Monday	1 John 3:22-4:6	Matthew 4:12-17,23-25
Second day	8 January	Tuesday	1 John 4:7-10	Mark 6:34-44
Third day	9 January	Wednesday	1 John 4:11-18	Mark 6:45-52
Fourth day	10 January	Thursday	1 John 4:19-5:4	Luke 4:14-22
Fifth day	11 January	Friday	1 John 5:5-13	Luke 5:12-16
Sixth day	12 January	Saturday	1 John 5:14-21	John 3:22-30

If you are using a Universalis program or app, or even the Universalis web site, and you find the readings out of step with what you expect, then check your calendar setting.

• The web site will use the General Calendar unless you tell it which other calendar to use.
• The apps and programs will try to guess where you are from your device’s settings, but you can change the local calendar from the screen that shows the list of dates.

Here is a more detailed explanation of how the calendar works at this time of year.