TO PIOUS Roman Catholics and many other Christians, the 12 days of Christmas are not over yet. The season is supposed to end on the 12th day – in Catholic calendar known as “feast of the Three Kings” – counting from Dec. 25. The 12th day always falls on Jan. 6.
On the other hand, whoever composed the song Twelve Days of Christmas also counted 12 days but backward from the date Dec. 25. That number minus 12 equals 13, resulting in Dec. 13 as the first day of Christmas. The song makes no allusion to the “three kings.”
Just as the accuracy of the December 25 celebration of Christmas is questionable, so, too, is the observance of the Three Kings day, which some Catholic churches in the United States mark on the Sunday after January 6 and Orthodox Christians on Jan. 19.
The Church of England has maintained January 6 as the “12th day of Christmas.”
The Greek Orthodox and other Eastern churches have also adopted Jan. 6 as commemorative date for the baptism of the adult Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
In the Catholic Church liturgy, the feast is also known as the Feast of Epiphany – the day when the “three kings” Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar, allegedly guided by a bright star, paid a visit to the new-born child Jesus in Bethlehem.
The earliest reference to the “three kings” sprang from the song “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” which was written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr. of the Episcopal Church while serving as music director of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857.
Strange as it seems, there is no verse in the Bible that names the three “wise men” as Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar. In fact, the Bible does not describe them as “kings” but as “wise men from the East” – probably astrologers.
As written in the second chapter of Matthew, their “search” for Jesus began in compliance with the order of Israel’s King Herod, who wanted the child killed. Contrary to popular belief, they did not arrive at the manger on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house – no longer in a manger. This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth, since Herod – fearful of a threat to his position as king –tried to have Jesus eliminated by killing all male children under the age of two.
Believing them to be “wise men,” Israel’s King Herod asked the three to locate the child for him (Matthew 2:7).
It was only after the magi had met with Herod that the “bright star” shone, guided them to Bethlehem and hovered over the location of Jesus. The appearance of the “star” was the miracle that emboldened the “three kings” to renege on their commitment to Herod.
Hence, with their change of heart, they proceeded to see the child Jesus with no more evil motive. That’s why they gifted him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. They never returned to Herod with “mission accomplished.”
The Roman Catholic Church attaches symbolic importance to gold representing his royal standing; frankincense, his divine birth; and myrrh, his mortality.
This writer, however, does not bite the Epiphany story as a historical truth because “natural” stars appear to circle around the celestial poles. Being millions of light years away, there’s no way a star could pinpoint an earthly location.
As in other religious traditions, however, believers take it by faith. (hvego31@gmail.com /PN)
