Three Kings Day 2015

The 6th of January will be on a Tuesday and it shall be Three Kings Day 2015. It marks the day which many centuries ago, the famous biblical three kings arrived in Bethlehem to see and adore the new born baby Jesus. Three Kings Day comes 12 days after Christmas and it helps mark the ending of the Christmas season. It is also known as “The Manifestation of God”, “The Manifestation of Magi” or “Feast of Epiphany”. Some people say it signifies the taking down of Christmas trees and decorations and this is a family tradition that is passed on through generations.

The three kings who were also known as Magi or Wise men followed a star through the desert for 12 days to find the divine child in Bethlehem. Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior were their names and they represented Africa, Arabia and Europe respectively. They travelled by elephant, camel and horse to present the new born baby with three gifts that were symbolic and these were gold, myrrh and frankincense. On this day, a grand feast is held to pay homage to the Magi. In most parts of the world, it has remained to be a holiday of great importance.
In Mexico for example, it is marked by gift giving and there is a special culinary treat that is specific for the day. It is known as “Rosca de Reyes” which means King’s Cake in English. This dessert has a lot of symbolism and it is round shaped to signify the king’s crown. The sweet bread has a special surprise in it which is a tiny plastic figurine baked on the inside and it represents baby Jesus. It has different ways of being marked that vary in communities and countries but the meaning remains the same. It is widely marked with feasts, artwork of the Magi and the star that led them to Bethlehem. It’s one of the oldest feasts in Christianity.