Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6, a tradition that mixes religion, history and the delivery of gifts to children.
Thousands of children continue to leave the letter to the Three Wise Men on the night of January 5waiting to wake up with your most desired gifts under the tree.
“After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judeain the time of the king Herodwise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star at dawn and we came to worship him’”, this is how the Gospel of Saint Matthew introduces three of the most relevant figures of Christmas, the Three Wise Menwhose celebration takes place this January 6 in several countries of Europe and Latin America.
The origin of the Three Wise Men
The Three Wise Men of the East (or simply Three Wise Men) is the name by which Christian tradition calls the “magi”, a name given to learned priests in the Ancient East. According to the Gospel of Matthewafter the birth of Jesus of Nazareththey came from the East to worship him and give him symbolic gifts: gold, incense and myrrh.
The first mention of these “magicians” appears in the Gospel of Saint Matthewwithout names or exact number. They were guided by a star until Nativity scene to worship the king of the Jews and offer him their gifts, being warned by an angel not to return to the palace of Herodwho planned to end the child’s life.
It was not until Middle Ages when they were named: Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar. This tradition was consolidated and today children leave letters every January 5waiting to receive the gifts of the Three Wise Men.
He January 6 coincides with the Catholic celebration of Epiphanywhat does it mean “manifestation” and is related to Baby Jesus. The gifts of the wise men have symbolic meaning: the gold represents the royaltyhe incense the divinity and the myrrh the death or the suffering.
Tradition visualizes the three kings representing different ages and breeds: Melchior to Europeans, Gaspar to Asians and Balthazar to Africans. In the colonial american hispanic culture, Gaspar was sometimes replaced by a Inca Kingintegrating the identity of the indigenous peoples.
You may be interested in: Countries to which Colombians will be able to travel without VISA in 2026
In Spainfrom 19th centurythe night of January 5 became a children’s party with gifts, inspired by Christmas and in the figure of Saint Nicholas. In 1866 the first was held parade of kings in Alcoya tradition that later spread to others Spanish-speaking countries.
Interpretations of gifts
He goldhe incense and the myrrh They were not only material offerings: they had spiritual and ritual meanings. The myrrh was used for embalmhe incense for ceremonies and the gold symbolized the wealth. Studies suggest that gifts could also be medicinal or of symbolic valuerelated to the religious and funeral practices of the antique.
According to historical and scholarly accounts, such as John Chrysostomthe wise men offered the gifts to Jesus not only as king but as God. Some traditions say that the gold was stolen, that Judas embezzled it or that myrrh served for anoint Jesus after the crucifixion.
Read also: How many days are vacations per month in Colombia 2026?
Chests and relics of the gifts of Three Wise Men were preserved in monasterieslike that of Saint Paul of Mount Athosand have been temporarily displayed for strengthen faith and support communities affected by disastersas happened after the Athens earthquake in 1999 and in the Christmas 2014 in Ukraine and Belarus.
according to the book Marco Polo’s travelshe gold symbolizes the power over the material worldhe incense about him spiritual world and the myrrh about the death and healing. These gifts have kept their symbolic and religious value throughout the agesgiving life to the tradition that we celebrate today as the Three Kings Day.
