Today marks the end of the Christmas Season according to Western European tradition. Known as the Feast of the “Epiphany”, or “Theophany”, or “Three Kings Day”, it marks the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles through the arrival of the Magi — the “Three Kings” or “the Wise Men” who journeyed from “the East” — in Bethlehem to worship the newborn Christ; for some Christians it is the proper time for giving gifts. In the traditional Western ecclesiastical calendar it marks the end of the sacred time of the Twelve Days of Christmas and the beginning of the Ordinary Time that extends until the beginning of the sacred time of Lent.
Clamavi de Profundis, “We Three Kings”
For those interested, Patrick Murfin has provided a nice summary of the traditions of Epiphany, the Star of Bethlehem, and the popular carol “We Three Kings”.