The Three Wise Men

The Magi are popularly referred to as wise men and kings. The word Magi is a Latinization of the plural of the Greek word magos (μαγος pl. μαγοι), itself from Old Persian maguŝ from the Avestan magâunô, i.e. the religious caste into which Zoroaster was born, (see Yasna 33.7:' ýâ sruyê parê magâunô ' = ' so I can be heard beyond Magi '). The term refers to the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars, and gained an international reputation for astrology, which was at that time highly regarded as a science. Their religious practices and use of astrology caused derivatives of the term Magi to be applied to the occult in general and led to the English term magic. Translated in the King James Version as wise men, the same translation is applied to the wise men led by Daniel of earlier Hebrew Scriptures (Daniel 2:48). The same word is given as sorcerer and sorcery when describing "Elymas the sorcerer" in Acts 13:6-11, and Simon Magus, considered a heretic by the early Church, in Acts 8:9-13.

One of the most entrenched traditions in the Spanish culture is the celebration of the king’s night, when children and adults are filled with illusions and hopes. The Cavalcade is a parade on each January 5th that is carried out in large and small cities in Spain. It is to represent the route that toured the Magi from Bethlehem to find baby Jesus following the star which pointed the way.

Traditions identify a variety of different names for the Magi. In the Western Christian church they have been commonly known as

• Caspar or Gaspar (and several other Greek or Latin variants such as Gathaspa, Jaspar, Jaspas, etc.).
• Melchior (Melichior, Melchyor)
• Balthasar (Bithisarea, Balthassar).

These names apparently derive from a Greek manuscript probably composed in Alexandria around 500 A.D., and which has been translated into Latin with the title Excerpta Latina Barbari.[6] Another Greek document from the 8th century, of presumed Irish origin and translated into Latin with the title Collectanea et Flores, continues the tradition of three kings and their names and gives additional details.

Caspar is also sometimes given as Gaspar or Jaspar. One candidate for the origin of the name Caspar appears in the Acts of Thomas as Gondophares (AD 21 – c.AD 47), i.e., Gudapharasa (from which 'Caspar' might derive as corruption of 'Gaspar'). This Gondophares declared independence from the Arsacids to become the first Indo-Parthian king and who was allegedly visited by Thomas the Apostle. Christian legend may have chosen Gondofarr simply because he was an eastern king living in the right time period.

In contrast, the Syrian Christians name the Magi Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas. These names have a far greater likelihood of being originally Persian, though that does not, of course, guarantee their authenticity.

In the Eastern churches, Ethiopian Christianity, for instance, has Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater, while the Armenians have Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma. Many Chinese Christians believe that one of the magi came from China.This final idea is used by Christopher Moore in his novel Lamb.

Bible historian Chuck Missler mentions about an Armenian tradition identifying the Magi as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia and Gasper of India.

According to the Gospel of St. Matthew, the three Magi from the Orient offered for gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Child God. For years and centuries, popular tradition has represented three major characters that worshipped the baby Jesus and offered him gifts.

In Spain and Latin America there is the tradition of delivering gifts to children on the night of January 5th to 6th. That night, long awaited by children, the three Magi arrive in the city with all their entourage and they are received by the authorities. Mounted on their camels, the kings parade through the city to enjoy and delight children who are looking with eyes full of wonder and enthusiasm.

The Cavalcade of Kings is a representation of festive worship of the three Magi to the baby Jesus. The cities are filled with light and color, and begin the long haul, which sometimes lasted hours. There are parade of floats, camels, royal pages and the most varied and exotic characters parade before the astonished eyes of children and adults. According to Spanish tradition, on the evening of January 5th the three Magi from the Orient tour the city by throwing candy to children and showing their entire splendor.

The Kings coal and bun: Roscón de Reyes

Roscon
But during the kings night and day, there is also a time to enjoy desserts and sweets. The Kings large ring-shaped bun baked for Epiphany is the star product of that day. This is a kind of large bun, more or less rounded, and decorated with pieces of crystallised fruit of various colours, very sweet and tasty.

The moment of eating this Christmas sweet is diverse. You can have it at breakfast, when the family is together opening gifts. Mealtime, as dessert, it is also appropriate, but the snack is not bad time either. Within the rounded bun, small gifts hide which are discovered with joy and good humour by those who eat the cake.

But all this tradition is associated with the behavior of children throughout the year, at times when children have not been well-behaved, they will not receive the gifts they expect. One of the things required by the Magi from the Orient is the kindness and good behavior in children. For those who during the year have not behaved well, the Kings did not bring gifts, but another kind of "gift", on the morning of January 6th children find coal. But as the Magi are not mean, coal given to children is a type of sweet coal, sugar, which they can eat all, children and elderly, and it symbolizes the notice of the need for the child to change.

The letter to the kings and the delivery to royal page.

Letter to the Kings
Each year, with the advent of Christmas, Spanish homes are filled with joy and enthusiasm. In Spain and the Spanish tradition countries, the Magi are celebrated with renewed hope. As the three Magi from the Orient did when worshiped the Child God by handing gifts, children and adults expect them to repeat the same gesture of generosity.

At the time, children helped by adults, write a letter to the Kings of The Orient, in which they detail, more or less, their behavior during the year (although the Kings already know) and which reflect their illusions and yearnings for the New Year. Also they write the gifts they want to receive. Closed the letter with really excitment, it's time to deliver it to the Kings. The letter can reach their Majesties by different paths. The first was delivered by hand to royal page, one of the most funs, beautiful and exciting. The king’s pages mounted the stage in which Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar receive children to take their letters and hear what gifts they want to receive, after verifying that they have behaved well and have been good.

Another way to deliver the letter is by mail. The latest way of delivering the letter, very typical in the Spanish tradition, is leaving it on the same king’s night, next to slippers, under the Christmas tree by the fireplace or in the window. GiftsAt night, the Kings are dedicated to enter the homes of children, read the letters and leave gifts next to the slippers.

Whatever the method chosen to deliver the letter, the next morning, children and adults wake up full of excitement and they run alongside their shoes, where there is so miraculous gifts. Joy, excitement, and hope flood Spanish homes. It is one of the most magical nights of the year.

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reyes_magos#Traditions
• http://www.spaintraditions.es/andalusia/january-6th-day-three-wise-men.html