Three Kings
From The East

by Guiny

I love Christmas time, the excitement of decorating the house is lots of fun. I help as much as I’m allowed and of course I do play with anything that I can put my paw on.

Many of the ornaments are Santa’s figures, or Rudolph, snow men, bells, etc. Every year we have the same tree, full of surprises and great amusements, especially for me. I like redecorating it every day, hiding the toys and asking to replace things, to keep the fun as long as the tree is there for me.

There are very few things I’m not allowed to play with, no one ever punishes me, but if it is something that is not a toy at all, they place it every year too. Though most of the time it's where I can’t find it, or will not use the figure as a toy. They don’t like it when I take one of the small figures to the humans, nor laugh and play if I hide any of the details of that group, or even replace the order.

So I’ve decided to find out about such specific group of toys they use to decorate the house, also asked the humans the difference between all the fun things, and those figures they like me to “respect”. Therefor I want to share what I have learned with all of you.

Here in several different places of Europe, those little figures form part of a complete group and each one of them has a different meaning. So the ornament most have some specific representations and there’s people that end building a complete town based in the main central subject of the group. My humans just place the most important characters, but for what they explained to me there are many ways to represent it.

They call the group NATIVI SENCE. As said before, there are people that place a complete town, with all the elements of a place from those times in the period of history. A nativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors during the Christmas season, and is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger, Mary, and Joseph. Other figures in the scene may include angels, shepherds, and various animals. The figures may be made of any material, and arranged in a stable or grotto. The three Magi also appear, and are sometimes not placed in the scene until the week following Christmas to account for their travel time to Bethlehem. While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter, nativity scenes in churches usually remain on display until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Nativity scene takes its inspiration from the accounts of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio, Italy; in an attempt to place the emphasis of Christmas upon the worship of Christ rather than upon secular materialism and gift giving.

The Three Kings recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah while he was still a child, and traveled thousands of miles to worship him. They doggedly followed a star which led them to Jesus. Their gifts symbolize Christ's identity and mission: gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh, used to anoint the dead – representing Jesus was here as any other human being.

During many years in Europe the gifts were given out on January 6th, as that is the date they say the Three Wise men visited the Lord. Now days, the day of Jesus Birth is celebrated and many gifts shared; any way kids love to wait for the Three Magic parade, as they receive candy and also give them letters with their wishes. That night the kids are sure the Three East Kings will visit their houses – just as Santa does – to leave some more presents and candy; making it a second special night for the child to feel joy and emotion.

A big difference from Santa is that if the kids have not been good, or not as good as they should be. The Wise Kings leave a piece of coal … it may be a lot or just a small bit, that depends on each child. Although it’s just coal, it is Magic coal that tastes good and the young love eating it.

So let’s all keep in mind Christmas is not just about gifting and presents, it is a magic special date, where we most recall the love our Lord shares with us during all the year. No matter if it’s Santa’s visit or Wise Magic Kings from foreign lands; it is all about LOVE!

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