Epiphany: Baboushka and the Three Kings

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Baboushka takes us through the end of the Christmas season. She escorts us and shows us that, no matter what, Christmas will be back next year. And the year after that. But remember that Twelfth Night is not until January 6th. So, in truth, we do have a few more days of celebrating to do!

Baboushka and the Three Kings, Ruth Robbins, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov

This last picture book seemed perfect for our last Sunday of the Christmas season because I feel that it goes right along with Patricia Polacco’s Russian heritage. I completely relate to Baboushka, lol! I clean my house before I leave on a trip and I clean it when I come back. My kids think I’m crazy, they are probably right, but it’s my way of feeling that I have come home. Therefore Baboushka is one of my favorite folk tales because I can relate but also because it is always good to stop and ponder: what is keeping me from following Christ in this current season of life?

What is holding me back?

This will be a different sort of craft, it is more of a pondering. At the beginning of this new year, 2026, hopefully you have already entrusted it to Our Lady on New Year’s day, let us take a good look at our life. This is such a great exercise for adults and children to do. Grab, or gift, a brand new notebook and start a fresh journal of sorts. I always like to decorate the first page (that’s the crafty part, lol).

So maybe on the second or third page, inscribe as a title: What is holding me back? Then start a list of what is holding you back from being your best self, from following Christ, from accomplishing something that you wish to accomplish or need to accomplish. What is keeping you from being the person the Lord is calling you to be? Then proceed with a brain dump. Write anything and everything that crosses your mind that you think might be holding you back.

Why do this?

When the Three Kings knocked at Baboushka’s door she was cleaning her home. An important and noble task for anyone, especially for the homemaker, but not a life-or-death task. How often do I get trapped in letting the little things of life, like house cleaning, keep me from the greater ones, such as being truly present to my child? Unless I pause occasionally and ponder this, I do not even realize that I do it. At the beginning of the new year, or the new month, or on your birthday, it is important to pause and re-order our life: God, husband, children, homeschooling/job, other duties and engagements. This re-alignement of our priorities strengthens our vocation and leads us, as well as those all around us, to greater peace and joy.

Now what?

After finishing my brain dump I can start putting pen to paper on a new page and change just one little thing to get closer to  being the person the Lord is calling me to be. Baboushka left her home and followed the Kings, for me it might be putting my broom away and being fully present to listen to my child’s story about how the cat got away.

And maybe I start small, just once today I will pay more attention to being present than at accomplishing my more mundane task. Just once a day I will pay more attention during read-aloud and draw less. You get the idea. Just like reading one page a day will get you closer to finishing the book, one small change a day will help get closer to who you are meant to be. Review and update your notebook daily, doodle in it, make changes, junk journal it, and grow.

Junk journals

These are a BIG thing in our home, even the 5 years old will create herself pages in a notebook (it’s the cutest thing, really). Junk journaling is a blend of journaling and scrapbooking that opens the door to creativity and spending time reflecting. We use anything and everything that strikes our fancy from old newspaper, scrapbooking paper and stickers to fabric and glitter.

The creation of a junk journal enables my mind to rest and ponder, then I can start writing down the pondering and bring it to life in a relaxed and unhurried way. If junk journaling is too overwhelming, just teaching our children to spend some time doodling and writing their thoughts in a journal is an incredible gift we can give them. I always buy some journals to give them at Christmas, they are usually cheap ones found at Ross, Walmart or whatnot. But they love it and love reminiscing over last year’s when they start a new one. This year I am planning on gifting them new journals on Epiphany instead of Christmas and start a new tradition of pondering what is holding me back.

French Kings’ Cake and its tradition

On to my favorite cake of the year! The French Kings’ Cake, la Galette des Rois, has nothing to do with the Louisiana one. It is so much richer and creamier and holds a surprise. It has nothing to do with Carnival (which, historically in France, only takes place on Fat Tuesday) but everything to do with the visit of the Magis.

The best part of this Kings’ Cake is to be the one to find the fève, a small porcelain figurine. The fève is baked directly into the cake. Then once the cake is cut, the youngest member of the family will hide under the table. The father of the family will serve a slice and with each slice ask the child under the table: “To whom does this slice go?”. The child will then assign the slice to each person, that way there is no favoritism of who might find the fève. The person who finds the fève is then crowned king or queen for the day and may choose her king or his queen. Everyone obeys the royal couple for the day. A very special privilege.

Fèves and crowns

Fèves are highly prized collectibles in France. Any small porcelain trinket will do or even a quarter (thoroughly washed and disinfected…). Just make sure it is something very clean and that can be put in the oven at no risk of melting.

When you buy your Galette at the bakery in France, it always comes with two golden paper crowns. But you can easily make your own.
Supplies

• Golden card stock
• Crown template (click “Imprimer les 2 parties”, then “fermer”. The pdf should open and you can print it.)
• Double sided tape

Print or trace the template on the back of 2 sheets of paper. Cut them out, gently force each into a half circle, apply the double sided tape to the ends and voila! You have a perfectly beautiful Kings’ Cake crown. Bedazzling is of course encouraged. 

Blessed fest of the Epiphany!
Love,
Mattie