It may take several days for the local priest to bless all the houses of the parishioners that ask for it, and so the blessing of the houses may go into the after-feasts of the Epiphany celebrations.

An Irish feast of the Epiphany celebration serves as the initial setting for-and anchors the action, theme, and climax of-James Joyce's acclaimed novella The Dead, the longest and final story in his 1914 collection Dubliners.

LEAD: Members of the St. Nicholas Hellenic Orthodox Church, 155 Cedar St., marching down West Street yesterday on way to Hudson River for Epiphany celebration.

In reply, he wrote the misogynistic poem "Donne musiche parlano dall'Inferno" (Women musicians speak from Hell) which was probably performed at the court's Epiphany celebrations in 1621.

January 6 - Andrea Salvadori's poem, "Donne musiche parlano dall'Inferno" (Women musicians speak from Hell) is performed at the court's Epiphany celebrations in 1621.

One is the Fuoco di Natale (Christmas Bonfire) taking place from Christmas Eve to the morning of January 6 (the Epiphany celebration).

But Patrick Leigh Fermor, with his jolly tales of midwinter nights spent in unheated barns and Epiphany celebrations with two well-bred young women he befriended in a German tavern, delighted them.

Around the world, special pastries, such as the tortell and king cake are baked on Twelfth Night, and eaten the following day for the Feast of the Epiphany celebrations.

THREE KINGS DAY PARADE, the 15th annual parade based on the Epiphany celebration, featuring community residents dressed in costumes and live animals.

The parade, sponsored by El Museo del Barrio, is in its 10th year, and is one of the few Epiphany celebrations that has not been transferred to the Sunday closest to Jan. 6.