Separating fact from fiction in regard to Epiphany and the Wisemen

Epiphany celebrates the travel of the Magi

(This article was assisted in part by AI)

Epiphany is a Christian celebration that usually is in Greek Orthodox Churches. It takes place on January 6 and is the observance of the 3 Wise Men visiting baby Jesus but much of what has been projected may not be historically correct. These men have been depicted as being 3 in number and 3 different races Asian, African, and Caucasian. They have even given names of Melchior, Caspar, and Belthazar which are mentioned in the children's classic holiday flim The Little Drummer Boy.

Magi is short for magician and these wise men were said to be astrologers who studied the stars. They saw a new star appear once night and decided to follow it but no one knows how long their journey took. King Herod is said to have demanded that all boy babies age 2 and under be killed and Mathew chapter 2 says the wise men found a child in a house. This has led some people to say they were not at the manger with the shepherds on the first Christmas.

There is no record of the number of Magi or their ethnicity

The Bible does not specify the exact number of Magi (Wise Men) who visited Jesus but the Gospel of Matthew, which is the primary source for the story of the Magi, indicates that they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the child in a house. (Not a babe in a manger). This has led some to speculate that by the time the kings found Jesus, he may have been at least 2 years old. Some theologians suggest that it may have taken the men 2 years to travel across the dessert.

The Gospel of Matthew does not specify the precise number of Magi but the mention of three gifts has led to the assumption that there were three Wise Men each one bearing a gift. This is the premise in many churches where 3 men sing We Three Kings of Orient Are and each one lays a gift in the manger. The actual number of the astrologers is not stated in the biblical text or Jewish history but tradition has given us three.

Western culture has influenced the images of the Magi

The concept of the three Magi is deeply ingrained in Western Christian tradition, church pageants, and art. This has become as widely accepted as representation in the cultural depiction of the Nativity scene and blue eyed blonde Jesus even though He was Jewish. Eastern Christians like the Eastern Orthodox Church, have variations in their depictions of the number of Wise Men.

Some scholars have said it is unlikely 3 men would have traveled alone across the dangerous desert and there probably was a caravan of 12 or more. There also is no proof of their racial makeup. All that is known is they followed the star and visited Jesus at some point giving him 3 precious gifts.

Varied ways to observe Epiphany

Those who choose to observe Epiphany on January 6 will do so based on their culture and understanding of the event. Some Americans who were nhto able to purchase gifts by December 25, will have a celebraton on January 6 calling it the second Christmas. In Madrid, Spain there will be an annual Three Kings day Parade. Actor Antonio Banderas says he participates because it is cultural/traditional and not for overtly religious reasons.

Epiphany holds significance in various Christian traditions, and the ways in which it is celebrated can vary. In some cultures, it marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the liturgical season of Epiphany, which extends until the beginning of Lent.