Epiphany season

The Epiphany season is a liturgical period which begins at the Epiphany and ends at various points depending on usage.

Roman Catholic Church

In the Roman Catholic Church the Epiphany season begins at the Epiphany vigil Mass on January 5 and runs until either January 13 or Septuagesima. Different texts apply different uses to the term, although they are essentially the same season.

If January 5 is a Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is kept on that date, and the Epiphany season is not begun until that evening. The feast of the Holy Family takes place during the Epiphany season.

January 13 marks the octave day of the Epiphany. An octave day is the day occurring eight days following a feast, marking the close of the feast. Some texts claim that the Epiphany season ends on its octave day. Others say that the season continues until Septuagesima, the seventh Sunday before Easter.

Church of England

In the Church of England, the Epiphany season begins at Evening Prayer on the Eve of the Epiphany (which may be celebrated on 6 January or the Sunday between 2 and 8 January) and ends at Evening Prayer (or Night Prayer) on the Feast of the Presentation (which may be celebrated on 2 February or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February). The colour for the season is white.

Revised Common Lectionary

In some adaptations of the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many Protestant denominations, the Epiphany season begins on January 6, and continues until the day before Ash Wednesday (which begins Lent). The last Sunday of Epiphany is Transfiguration Sunday.