Epiphany/Three Kings Day on January 6 celebrates the Magi finding Christ two years after His birth

A different "Christmas"

While most of the world observes the birth of Christ on December 25 there are those among us in Orthodox communities as well as Catholics and mainstream Christians who celebrate on January 6 with Epiphany or Three Kings Day. It's customary to see Nativity scenes with Shepherds and Wise Men at the manger but there are reasons that some say the Magi were not present on the first Christmas and observe a different date.

Matthew chapter 2 tells the story of the Wise Men following a star and traveling from the East first stopping to talk to King Herod and then finding a child in a house (not a baby in a manger). When the Magi did not return to the King he had all boy babies who were two years old and under murdered based on the timing that the "Kings" saw the star.

Accounts vary

One theory suggests the journey across the desert may have taken up to 40 days and other believe the Wise Men saw the star long before Christ was born and it took them up to two years to find Herod and eventually ended up at the manger on the night He was born.

It has been assumed that there were three Wise Men because there were three gifts mentioned, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. An Armenian tradition says names have even been given to them Caspar or Gaspar, from India, Melchior, from Persia and Balthasar of Arabia but there is no evidence this is accurate. It has also been said over the years that it is highly unlikely that three men carrying gold and other gifts would travel through the desert alone and more than likely there would have been a caravan.

Three Kings Day/Epiphany

January 6 is the date to celebrate the three Magi mentioned earlier but Epiphany is an observance of Christ's birth as well as the visit from the kings. In some locations, there are parades for the occasion. There is so much folklore, tradition, and myth related to the birth of Jesus and it has all been mixed with the truth.

People will hold onto what they believe even when confronted with evidence it is not accurate. Historians suggest the star appeared at the birth of Christ but the Wise Men had to travel a long way across the desert so it took time and their traveling by camel could indicate that it indeed took up to 2 years for them to arrive.

Let's celebrate

One website considers the crowded manger scenes with Mary and Joseph, animals, shepherds, angels, and Wise Men to be a mashup of many legends. There is no way to know with 100% certainty when the Magi arrived but historians as well as scripture suggest it took them a while to get where they were going. I know people who were short on cash and could not purchase Christmas presents and gave gifts on Epiphany after they had a chance to receive another paycheck.

There is no way to find out the exact details related to the Wise Men or separate fact from fiction with so many contrasting stories. How many there were, if they were really kings, what was their country of origin and nationality, and how long the journey took? What we can do is embrace a second chance at Christmas so to speak and continue researching the issue for as much clarity as we can get. At least if Three Kings Day and Epiphany are being observed it takes away from January 6 being associated with the Capital riots in 2o21.