Epiphany Traditions: King Cake & House Blessing

This is the first installment of “Life in the Church Year,” a series by Dr. Kristen Einertson and Tessa Muench of All the Household. This series will provide guidance for living out the seasons of the Church Year at home with your families. Find month-by-month lists of Lutheran feasts, festivals and commemorations here.

In a cultural milieu that so easily distracts us from the Christian faith, many Christians ask: How do we order our lives outside of Sunday mornings in a distinctly Christian way?

Fortunately, we can find a helpful answer in the traditions of Lutheran liturgical living handed down over the centuries. Alongside the indispensable habits of attending services and holding devotions in the home, the church has passed down foods, activities and more for each season that engage all the senses and help Christians incorporate the faith into their everyday lives. As we move through the Church Year in the Divine Service, these at-home traditions help that faith sink deeply into our bodies and become part of our everyday confession, a confession not only in word but also in deed.

This year in The Lutheran Witness, we are going to take you through a month-by-month exploration of a few of the rich traditions that you may consider incorporating in your homelife.

The season of Epiphany begins on Jan. 6. In this season, Jesus’ revelation is everywhere: We find the Babe to whom the nations bow; we hear the Father’s word, “This is My Son,” at His Baptism in the Jordan; we see the inauguration of His wonders as He turns water into wine. These themes reverberate through the church’s traditions that accompany the season.

One of the most iconic foods we associate with Epiphany is King Cake, a pastry from the 12th century twisted in the symbolic shape of our Lord’s crown. As befits a festive dessert, the sweet dough is enriched with butter and sugar and contains a special surprise! Traditionally, some trinket — a bean, coin or baby Jesus figurine — is discreetly inserted into the cake for one lucky eater to discover. (See recipe below.)

Photo: Tessa Muench

Another Epiphany tradition you may try this year is the house blessing. Ask your pastor to come over and bless each room of your home with appropriate Scripture readings and prayers. This tradition sometimes includes chalking the doorpost with “20 + C + M + B + 25” (for this year). Some say the letters stand for the names of the Magi, but Lutherans often see a Christocentric meaning: Christus Mansionem Benedicat (“May Christ Bless the House”). Of course, this custom reminds us of a central focus of Epiphany: the Christ who loves mankind so much that He came to dwell among us.

King Cake Recipe

Dough

1 cup warm milk

1 packet yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. melted butter, slightly cooled

3 eggs, separated

3–3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 Tbsp. vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar

Frosting

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 Tbsp. milk

Toppings of choice (sprinkles, etc.)

Instructions:

Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk, then add the sugar, salt, butter, and two eggs plus one egg yolk. Reserve the remaining egg white. Add the flour and knead in a stand mixer for 10 min. Remove the dough and let rise in a greased bowl until doubled.

On parchment paper, roll out the dough into a rectangle and mix the filling ingredients. Spread the filling on the dough and fold the outer thirds over the middle third lengthwise. Cut the dough in half lengthwise, twist the strands together, and connect them at the ends to form a crown. Let it rise once more for 30 min.

Mix the reserved egg white with 1 tbsp water and brush over the bread. Bake at 350ºF until golden, about 50 min. While waiting, mix the confectioners’ sugar and milk together to make frosting. When the cake has cooled, decorate with the prepared frosting and top with sprinkles. Insert the trinket into the cake, slice and serve!

Cover image: Tessa Muench