St. Frances Cabrini Church ended the Christmas season on Sunday with an Epiphany mass and the Burning of the Greens, and transitioned into the Mardi Gras season.

The Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on Jan. 6 or the Sunday closest to Jan. 6 and usually marks the end of the Christmas season, said Father Chad Partain, pastor at the church. It is the feast that celebrates the arrival of the Magi to see the Christ child and is known as Three Kings’ Day.

“In the Christmas narrative, the three Magi arrived from the East, the Wise Men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Infant Jesus born in Bethlehem,” said Partain. “And so, the story of the arrival of the Magi marks the end of the Christmas season.”

Traditionally in Louisiana the Epiphany is celebrated with the making of King Cakes and is the transition from Christmas and New Year to Mardi Gras season, he said.

The Burning of the Greens was held after mass with the Christmas trees and wreaths collected by parishioners. The fire was lit by Boy Scout Troop 6.

“The Burning of the Greens is really an English custom where the live greenery used in the decoration of the church for Christmas is taken out of the church,” explained Partain.

The Christmas season lasts for 12 days and when those 12 days ended, the live greenery was removed and burned.

"So the Burning of the Greens and the celebration of Epiphany really is sort of a mark to the end of our Christmas celebration,” he said. “The fire is always symbolic, and the Burning of the Greens is done at night because Christ, of course, is recognized as the light of the world, the light that shines in the darkness. And so the light of that fire in the night is a reminder that Christ is our light.”

At the Feast of the Epiphany held in the Cabrini School activities building, Partain recognized the royalty from local Mardi Gras krewes. Partain blessed the King Cake slices and Queen’s Soup was served. The soup has its origins in New Orleans where the soup was originally prepared for the Queen of Rex and served on the Twelfth Night.

“Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler,” said Partain to applause and cheers.

And with those words, Mardi Gras is officially underway in Alexandria.