As a Catholic homeschool mom, one of the most delightful aspects of our faith is the opportunity to celebrate various liturgical seasons and feasts with our children and incorporate them into our homeschooling throughout the year!
Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, holds a special place in our studies as it commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.
This year, I wanted to tell you about some of the rich traditions of Epiphany and explore creative ways to make it a memorable experience for your homeschool family!
Pick up your blessed chalk between Christmas Day and Epiphany from your parish. Holy water is usually available in the Baptismal font or a separate dispenser.
1. Make A King Cake:
Start your Epiphany celebration by baking a delicious King Cake with your children. This sweet and festive treat is adorned with colorful icing and often hides a small trinket or baby figurine inside, symbolizing the baby Jesus.
When you enjoy this scrumptious dessert with your children, take the opportunity to share the story of the Three Wise Men and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Will link books below!)
The 2025 King Cake season starts on Twelfth Night or Epiphany January 6th through Mardi Gras March 4th.
Traditional King Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F/43°C)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a bowl, combine warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture, let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, melted butter, vanilla extract, flour, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and eggs. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1-2 hours).
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Assemble the King Cake:
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle.
- Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll up the dough tightly, forming a log shape. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down.
- Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the Icing:
- In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Decorate the King Cake:
- Once the King Cake has cooled, spread the icing over the top.
- Sprinkle purple, green, and gold colored sugars in alternating sections.
- Serve:
- Slice and enjoy your delicious King Cake!
PRINT THE RECIPE!
Gluten-Free King Cake
(Using King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Bread Mix)
Ingredients:
- 1 package (16 ounces) King Arthur Gluten-Free Bread Mix
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F/43°C)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a bowl, combine warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture, let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, melted butter, vanilla extract, flour, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and eggs. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1-2 hours).
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Assemble the King Cake:
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle.
- Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll up the dough tightly, forming a log shape. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down.
- Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the Icing:
- In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Decorate the King Cake:
- Once the King Cake has cooled, spread the icing over the top.
- Sprinkle purple, green, and gold colored sugars in alternating sections.
- Serve:
- Slice and enjoy your delicious King Cake!
Here is a link to tiny plastic babies to hide in the cake!
Natural Food Coloring!
Most “natural” food colorings still contain things your child might be sensitive to like Polysorbate 80. If you want to avoid all that kind of stuff, I recommend investing in these natural food dye powders from Suncore that you can use in ALL kinds of things from pancakes and cupcakes to frosting and homemade ice cream.
King Cake Kit
Catholic Family Crate has a King Cake Kit that comes with crowns to wear, cake decorations, and a tiny baby Jesus to hide in the cake!
2. Three Kings Day Crafts:
Engage your little ones in crafting activities that highlight the significance of Epiphany. Create crowns with glitter, gems, and vibrant colors to represent the majestic gifts brought by the Magi. Encourage your children to reenact the journey of the Wise Men with a simple DIY nativity scene, allowing them to explore the biblical narrative in a hands-on and creative way.
3. “Chalking the Door” Tradition:
A beautiful and time-honored Epiphany tradition is the “chalking of the door” with blessed chalk.
Gather your family and mark the entrance of your home with the initials of the Magi (C, M, and B), along with the current year. These letters not only represent the traditional names of the Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) but also abbreviate the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat,” meaning “May Christ bless this house.”
4. House Blessing Ceremony:
Extend the celebration by incorporating a house blessing ceremony. Gather your family in the main living areas and invite a priest or, if unavailable, have dad do the blessing. Use holy water to bless each room, praying for the safety, peace, and joy of all who reside within. This act not only strengthens the spiritual atmosphere of your home but also reinforces the importance of faith in your homeschooling journey.
If you download our FREE Epiphany Printables Pack, we’ve included Home Blessing instructions you can print to carry out the traditional home blessing.
You can also grab a convenient Home Blessing Kit from Holy Heroes or Catholic Family Crate (but CFC kit is currently sold out as of 12/31/2024.)
Home Blessing Kit
The Home Blessing kit contains:
- Complete step-by-step instructions for the head of household to celebrate the Catholic Home Blessing (the prayers and actions to accompany the blessing)
- Holy Water Bottle (Holy water NOT included! Fill it at your local parish.)
- Chalk to get blessed by your priest.
- and more!
Celebrating Epiphany as a Catholic homeschool family offers a unique opportunity to intertwine faith, fun, and tradition. By engaging in activities such as making a King Cake, crafting Three Kings Day decorations, and participating in the beautiful customs of “chalking the door” and house blessings, you can create lasting memories and deepen the spiritual connection within your home.
May the joy of Epiphany fill you with joy and inspire a sense of wonder in the hearts of your children as they grow in their understanding of the Christian faith.
