It is Monday January 6the liturgical calendar celebrates the Three Kings Daya festival that closes the cycle of Christmas y New Year with a special focus on the delivery of gifts and symbolic acts.
This day, particularly important in Hispanic and Catholic cultures, honors the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesusan episode that fuses religious, historical and cultural elements. Beyond the gifts and merriment, the date represents a link with ancient traditions and an opportunity to relive its rich history.
The Three Wise Men are figures mentioned exclusively in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Matthew 2:1-12)although the biblical account does not describe them as “kings” nor does it mention their names or exact number.
They are defined as “magicians” of the East, a term that in its original context refers to wise men or astrologers, people dedicated to interpreting the stars and predicting events. At that time, the East for the Jews It covered regions such as Arabia, Persia or Chaldeaand the “magi” were probably priests of Zoroastrianism, guardians of Zarathustra’s legacy.
Popular tradition, enriched with apocryphal and medieval influences, assigned the Magi the names of Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar for the first time in 6th century mosaics in the Basilica of Saint Apollinaris the New, in Ravenna, Italy.
In these mosaics, they are shown dressed in Persian fashion, wearing Phrygian caps and carrying gifts. As the tradition spread, they became linked to the three ages of man, youth, maturity and old age, and the three races known in Europe at that time: European, Asian and African.
In the Apocryphal Gospels It is detailed that the star that the Magi followed was interpreted as an exceptional celestial event. In this story, they prostrate themselves before Jesus in a humble Bethlehem stable and, warned in dreams about the intentions of the king Herodthey return to their lands by a different path.
The story ends with the escape of María, José and Jesus to Egyptwhile Herod orders the Massacre of the Innocents.
The cult of the Three Wise Men intensified during the Middle Ages, when their figure was associated with miraculous powers. According to a manuscript of 13th century, their names were believed to protect against epilepsy and other diseases. In some places in Europe, their initials, GBM, were written on doors to ward off demons and witches.
The date of January 6 is related to the Christian holiday of Epiphany, a celebration that means “manifestation” in Greek (epiphany) and which commemorates the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah.
This revelation includes several events recounted in the Gospels, such as the adoration of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, and his first miracle at the wedding at Cana.
The election of January 6 could also respond to the Church’s intention to Christianize pagan festivities. In the Greco-Roman world, this date coincided with celebrations such as those dedicated to Dionysusgod of wine, in Greece, or Aionthe god of eternal time, in Alexandria.
These festivities marked a period of renewal, which the Church adapted to symbolize the beginning of the manifestation of Christ to the non-Jewish world.
Since the 4th century, the Western Church began to celebrate the Epiphany highlighting the visit of the Magi. In this context, the Three Wise Men came to represent the Gentiles, that is, all non-Jewish nations that recognized the divinity of Jesus.
Over time, the celebration of the Three Wise Men was enriched with specific cultural traditions in countries of Catholic influence. In Spain and Latin Americathe children prepare the night of January 5 by leaving grass and water for the Kings’ camels, as well as clean shoes, hoping to receive gifts as a reward for their good behavior.
In Spain, the Three Kings’ parades, documented for the first time in Alcoy in 1866, have become expected spectacles on the eve, where the Kings parade in floats and distribute candy.
Finally, January 6 is also the day of roscón de reyesa crown-shaped bun decorated with candied fruits that symbolize the jewels of the Kings. This tradition has roots in ancient romewhere a similar cake was shared during the Undefeated Sun festival.
