The Festival of the Nativity of our Lord is the traditional way of saying Christmas Day, on which Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.

While Christmas focuses on the incarnation of our Lord — God becoming flesh — the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ.

In the Three-Year Lectionary, the Feast of the Transfiguration is observed on the last Sunday in Epiphany and is only three days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Ash Wednesday, which will be commemorated on Feb. 14, is the beginning of Lent and, if Sundays are omitted, is 40 days before Easter.