Day of the Wisemen
Gold
Frankincense
Myrrh
Day of the Wisemen - Dia de los Reyes Magos
On January 6, the Hispanic world celebrates El Dia de los Reyes Magos, when the Three Wise Men (Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar) following the star to Bethlehem, arrived bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus.
Mexican Traditions
In Mexico, the tradition is that children write letters to the Wise Men asking for presents. On January 5, families go to a beautiful park in Mexico for a festival full of concessions, toys and photo opportunities with the Wise Men. Hundreds of colorful helium balloons are sold during the season, and the children attach their letters to them, and have them fly up into the sky carrying all their wishes.
Before going to bed the children place their old shoes under their bed or in the living room, where the Wise Men will leave them their presents. Some also place hay and a bucket with water outside for the animals, and cookies and milk for Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar.
Puerto Rican Traditions
In Puerto Rico, on La VĂspera de Reyes (the Eve of Three Kings Day) children cut grass to put in a shoe box under their bed for the camels to eat. Their "wish list" is placed on top of the grass.
In the morning they come to find that the grass has been eaten by camels and presents have been placed in the shoe box by the Wise Men.
Melchor
El Rey Melchor was the Sultan of Arabia. He was the oldest of the Magi and was a small and gentle man. Melchor had a long white beard and wore elegant crimson robes. His gift was gold which was used by the Hebrews for the Temple and was plentiful in the time of David and Solomon. Gold was not coined until after the reign of King David, was an article of commerce and was sold by weight. It is rumored that Melchor brought many other priceless gifts as well.
Baltazar
El Rey Baltazar was a Nubian King and ruler of Ethiopia. Baltazar was dressed in exquisite robes. His gift was myrrh, a precious and aromatic resin that comes from the bark of thorny African trees and symbolized suffering. Myrrh was a precious commodity in the Middle East. It was one of the ingredients of the holy ointment, and of the embalming substance. It is used in medicine and as a perfume. Baltazar was also rumored to have brought many other expensive gifts and treasures along. Legend tells us that Baltazar died soon after in the presence of the other Wise Men.
Gaspar
El Rey Gaspar was Emperor of the Orient and ruled over all oriental lands. His clothes were gilded in gold. King Gaspar's gift was frankincense, an exceedingly aromatic gum used in the sacred incense for the Temple service. It is distilled from a tree in Arabia. Frankincense was a priceless gift for Kings and symbolized prayer. It was burned in temples to honor God. Gaspar is said to have also brought many other fine gifts for the Christ Child. It is said that Gaspar traveled the furthest.
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