Epiphany
Historical Context
Epiphany falls every year on 6 January. In Slovakia it is both a state-recognised day of rest and a Christian feast marking the visit of the Three Kings to the infant Jesus.
Epiphany has been observed in Slovak lands since Christianisation and has remained a day of rest under every regime. The Slovak name Traja králi (Three Kings) refers to the magi Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. In Catholic tradition, this date closes the twelve days of Christmas.
Priests bless homes during the days around Epiphany, writing K+M+B with the year above the doorway in chalk, the initials of the three kings and a blessing for the year ahead. Christmas trees are traditionally taken down after Epiphany. In some regions, carol singers go house to house dressed as the three kings.
Regional Traditions
Severovýchodné Slovensko (gréckokatolíci)
In Greek-Catholic and Orthodox parishes of north-east Slovakia, priests bless water outdoors at streams and rivers on the morning of the feast — the "jordánska voda" rite recalling Christ's baptism. Parishioners dip a fir sprig in the blessed water, sprinkle themselves and take some home; farmers traditionally gave it to livestock as protection against illness and evil.
Celé Slovensko — kňazská koleda
Roman-Catholic priests perform the "kňazská koleda", visiting homes to sprinkle them with holy water, cense them, and chalk the doorframe with G+M+B (or C+M+B) and the year. Items blessed in church on Epiphany — water, chalk, candle and garlic — were until the mid-20th century kept at home as protection against illness, storms and demons.