An Epiphany Tradition: Planting Paperwhites

Even though the world around us is gray and wintry, Epiphanytide opens a quiet, luminous space in the liturgical year, a season set apart by its focus on the revelations of Christ. These are the moments when Jesus’ divine identity is made known to the world, and we’re invited not only to witness them, but to carry their light into our daily lives.

The central themes of this season, revelation, light, and reflection, form a bridge between the joy and fullness of Christmas and the coming penitence of Lent. Epiphany is not an ending but a continuation. The feast of Christmas declares the incarnation; Epiphanytide unfolds its meaning.

We ask:

How is Christ still being revealed to me?

How do I carry the Light of the World into ordinary days?

How is God quietly growing something in me?

During this season, we are surrounded by the liturgical color green, a symbol of life, growth, and enduring hope. And one of the simplest, most beautiful ways to enter into these themes at home is by planting paperwhites.

Why Paperwhites?

These delicate white flowers mirror the very heart of Epiphanytide. Their slow, quiet transformation from bulb to bloom offers a living picture of spiritual growth. As we open ourselves to the light of Christ, we grow, often imperceptibly, but steadily, toward His love.

Planting paperwhites is a gentle, contemplative act, a way to mark this in-between time with reflection and beauty. It’s also a perfect family tradition. Children especially love to watch the daily changes, and it offers an easy opportunity to talk about how God is always at work in what is small, slow, and unseen.

As the paperwhites turn toward the light, so too are we invited to turn toward Christ, letting His presence nurture our faith.

Epiphanytide Activity: Planting Paperwhites

Here’s everything you need to bring this tradition into your home:

Supplies:

• Paperwhite bulbs (You can find these at most nurseries. I ordered mine online.)

• Container (I used a few ceramic pots from the garage, but even a kitchen bowl will do.)

• Potting soil

• Small rocks or pebbles

  
  

Instructions:

1. Select your container. Fill the bottom quarter with rocks or pebbles to allow for drainage.

2. Add soil. Fill the rest of the pot with potting soil, gently pressing down to make space for the bulbs.

3. Nestle the bulbs. Set your paperwhite bulbs into the soil, making sure that only about 1/3 of each bulb is covered.

4. Water lightly. Gently moisten the soil, just enough to dampen it. Be careful not to overwater, as bulbs can rot if they sit in too much moisture. Water again only when the soil feels dry.

   
   

Bringing It All Together

Place your paperwhites in a bright window, and tend to them gently each day. As you do, let this become a time of prayer and reflection with your family. Watch for the green shoots as they emerge, tall, bright, and sure, and let their growth become a quiet metaphor for the Lord’s work in your life.

This is a simple practice, but a rich one. Our spiritual growth is often just like this: slow, steady, unseen, and full of wonder.

May this Epiphanytide be filled with the light of Christ, and may your days be marked by small signs of His nearness and love.