An epiphany

I discovered the significance of 6th January during a trip to Europe in 1981/82. January 6 was spent travelling from Cologne (Koln) to Innsbruck. It turned out to be a magical day - beginning at Koln cathedral and ending with a bus trip in the dark down the tortuously winding approach to the valley housing Innsbruck, arriving to a fairly land of snow and torchlight.

6th January, aka Epiphany, is the end of the 12 days of Christmas.

I've discovered that despite common mistaken beliefs (including mine), the 12 days of Christmas are not the 12 days leading up to Christmas, but the days between Christmas and Epiphany. Check out this website for more information. Apparently Epiphany is the day in which the Three Magi (3 wise men) arrived to present Jesus with the gifts of gold, frankincense & Myrrh. In fact, the cathedral at Cologne has a shrine to the 3 wise men (hence the elaborate service that I remember 26 years ago).

So who are the three wise men to deliver gifts to me?

Well, I'll nominate Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke.