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January 6 marks one of the most ancient and joyful feasts in the Christian calendar: the Solemnity of the Epiphany, commonly known as Three Kings Day or Día de los Reyes Magos. This day commemorates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, symbolized by the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. While Christmas celebrates the birth of the Savior, Epiphany reveals Him as King of all nations.
Scriptural Evidence: The Visit of the Magi
The only biblical account of the Magi appears in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12). After Jesus' birth in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod, "Magi from the east" arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
Guided by the star, they found the child with Mary and "prostrated themselves and did him homage." They presented three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolizing Christ's kingship, divinity, and future suffering.
The Bible does not specify their number, names, or royal status. The tradition of "three kings" arose from the three gifts, and their names—Caspar (or Gaspar), Melchior, and Balthazar—emerged in later Christian legend around the 6th century. Their relics are venerated in a magnificent shrine in Cologne Cathedral, Germany, where they were transferred in the 12th century.
Classic depiction of the Adoration of the Magi by Sandro Botticelli.
The History and Legend of the Three Kings
Early Christians celebrated Epiphany as early as the 3rd-4th centuries, initially focusing more on Christ's baptism in some traditions, but the Western Church emphasized the Magi's visit. Church Fathers like St. Augustine and St. Gregory Nazianzus reflected deeply on this event, seeing the Magi as representatives of the Gentile world coming to faith.
The Fathers highlighted the Magi's adoration as profound worship: they fell prostrate before the child, offering gifts rich in meaning. Some traditions view this act as the first Eucharistic adoration, prefiguring the reverence due to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. As one Catholic teaching notes, the Magi's homage mirrors the worship owed to the Eucharist, with the Council of Trent citing their example to underscore Eucharistic reverence.
Importance in Latino Nations and Beyond
In many Latin American countries and Spain, Three Kings Day is a bigger celebration than Christmas for gift-giving. Children leave shoes out on January 5, filled with grass or hay for the kings' camels, waking to find gifts from Los Reyes Magos on January 6.
Festivities often include vibrant parades (cabalgatas) where the three kings throw candy to crowds, family gatherings, and sharing the Rosca de Reyes—a sweet bread ring decorated with candied fruit, hiding a small baby Jesus figure (whoever finds it hosts the next party).
A festive Three Kings Day parade in Spain.
This tradition traces back to Spain and spread to Latin America during colonization. It's especially prominent in Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.
The traditional Rosca de Reyes cake.
Elsewhere, celebrations vary:
- In the Philippines, a former Spanish colony, it's a public holiday with parades and family feasts.
- In Germany, known as Dreikönigstag, children dressed as the kings go door-to-door caroling (Sternsinger), collecting for charity and marking doors with "C+M+B" (for the kings' names) and the year.
- In parts of Europe like Poland and Italy, similar customs prevail, often with special breads or cakes.
In the United States, Latino communities, especially in places like New York and Miami, hold large parades.
A Timeless Call to Adoration
Three Kings Day reminds us that Christ came for all peoples. Like the Magi, we are invited to seek Him, offer our best, and adore Him—whether in the Eucharist or in daily life.
This January 6, may we follow the star to the King of Kings.
Sources
- Bible: Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV or any standard translation).
- History.com: "What Is the Christian Holiday of Epiphany?"
- Wikipedia: "Epiphany (holiday)" and "Biblical Magi."
- Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent): "Magi."
- EWTN and various Catholic sources on Eucharistic adoration and Church Fathers.
- Smithsonian Institution and USA Today articles on Three Kings Day traditions.
- Cologne Cathedral resources on the Shrine of the Three Kings.
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