Comments on: 12 Days of Christmas and 3 Kings Day http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/ A weekly podcast exploring Mormon culture and current events. Thu, 24 May 2012 08:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dan Wotherspoon http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-159495 Dan Wotherspoon Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:03:00 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-159495 Hi Leetah, Hope you'll report on how it goes if you do this! We just did a new podcast on Christmas and the birth narratives, wise men, etc., that is most excellent. There we talk a bit about the twelve days and Jan 6th as Epihany (the revelation of Jesus to outsiders when the magi show up--whether twelve days or a year or more and twelve days after since some accounts have Jesus as a toddler by the time of their visit) rather than 3 Kings Day. Anyway, if you're in the mood, here's a link to the podcast.  http://mormonmatters.org/2011/11/29/62-a-christmas-primer-exploring-the-nativity-in-scripture-legend-history-and-hearts/ Best! Dan Wotherspoon Host, Mormon Matters Hi Leetah, Hope you’ll report on how it goes if you do this!

We just did a new podcast on Christmas and the birth narratives, wise men, etc., that is most excellent. There we talk a bit about the twelve days and Jan 6th as Epihany (the revelation of Jesus to outsiders when the magi show up–whether twelve days or a year or more and twelve days after since some accounts have Jesus as a toddler by the time of their visit) rather than 3 Kings Day. Anyway, if you’re in the mood, here’s a link to the podcast. 

http://mormonmatters.org/2011/11/29/62-a-christmas-primer-exploring-the-nativity-in-scripture-legend-history-and-hearts/

Best!
Dan Wotherspoon
Host, Mormon Matters

]]> By: Leetah http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-159494 Leetah Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:32:00 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-159494 I know this post is a few years old, but I like the idea of 3 Kings Day. I grew up in Southern California and so we had a lot of Hispanic friends and they did the cake thing! I don't know why I haven't thought about it before. I have been thinking an awful lot about how to bring Christ back into the Christmas celebration and take a little more of Santa Claus (Or Saint Nicholas) out. But as I have 4 young children that is a little harder than I thought. I know this post is a few years old, but I like the idea of 3 Kings Day. I grew up in Southern California and so we had a lot of Hispanic friends and they did the cake thing! I don’t know why I haven’t thought about it before. I have been thinking an awful lot about how to bring Christ back into the Christmas celebration and take a little more of Santa Claus (Or Saint Nicholas) out. But as I have 4 young children that is a little harder than I thought.

]]> By: colleen http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-125444 colleen Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:16:52 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-125444 i'm trying to start my own tradition of celebrating the 12 days of christmas. the past few years my children have opened small gifts on each day from christmas to jan 5th i wish there were some stories i could read to them each day about the events that might have happened around the birth of jesus. i'm just trying to put more jesus in christmas than santa. any ideas ? i’m trying to start my own tradition of celebrating the 12 days of christmas.
the past few years my children have opened small gifts on each day from christmas to jan 5th
i wish there were some stories i could read to them each day about the events that might have happened around the birth of jesus. i’m just trying to put more jesus in christmas than santa. any ideas ?

]]> By: CatherineWO http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-123128 CatherineWO Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:22:50 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-123128 Several years ago my daughter (who had just finished up a BYU semester abroad) and I spent the month of January backpacking through Europe. We happened to be in Rome on January 6th. We were so surprised to discover that the Italians celebrate this day, Epiphany or Three Kings Day, in a very big way. The streets of Rome were filled with people that day, mostly families with children, because it is the day for gifts to children. The largest piaza was full of booths selling toys and sweet treats. There were clowns and other street performers doing tricks. It was truly amazing and such a fun day for us to be there. There were very few tourists (who goes to Rome in January?), so we felt like special guests and were treated as such by the people we met. I don't know how that day is celebrated in other European countries, but we were delighted to find that all over Europe the churches keep their Christmas Nativity displays up through the month of January. It was like a whole month of Christmas for us. Several years ago my daughter (who had just finished up a BYU semester abroad) and I spent the month of January backpacking through Europe. We happened to be in Rome on January 6th. We were so surprised to discover that the Italians celebrate this day, Epiphany or Three Kings Day, in a very big way. The streets of Rome were filled with people that day, mostly families with children, because it is the day for gifts to children. The largest piaza was full of booths selling toys and sweet treats. There were clowns and other street performers doing tricks. It was truly amazing and such a fun day for us to be there. There were very few tourists (who goes to Rome in January?), so we felt like special guests and were treated as such by the people we met. I don’t know how that day is celebrated in other European countries, but we were delighted to find that all over Europe the churches keep their Christmas Nativity displays up through the month of January. It was like a whole month of Christmas for us.

]]> By: Glenn Smith http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-123079 Glenn Smith Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:58:05 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-123079 I have often wondered how many Wise Men actually visited the Child. Two, three, five, more??? Interesting how traditions evolve from limited information. i.e. three gifts. AS for when they came, I am inclined towards something over a year, perhaps nearer to two years after the Nativity. Why would Herod kill two year old children if the Babe was only a newborn, except to make sure the Child was included among the slaughtered. Thus, an older child makes more sense. Also, how long after the star appeared, did it take the Wise Men to consult with one another via "Camel Express", to gather*, and to travel to Jerusalem. "Kings", of the status of ones who would be welcomed to the court of Herod, would not simply grab the nearest camel, or horse, and dash off to Jerusalem. They would travel with an entourage, which would take time to prepare. And how far away did they live? Mathew 2:11 states the wise men "...were come into the house...." ,not the stable, so Joseph had time to find a new residence. Perhaps he was successful soon after the birth, but, did he have to wait for a vacancy after the tax-paying crowds dispersed? *Assuming they were not immediate neighbors. It will be fun to learn the whole story in time. The Other Wise Man is a great story that adds to the Christmas Spirit. Find it here: http://genecurtis.com/WiseMan4.htm I have often wondered how many Wise Men actually visited the Child. Two, three, five, more??? Interesting how traditions evolve from limited information. i.e. three gifts.

AS for when they came, I am inclined towards something over a year, perhaps nearer to two years after the Nativity. Why would Herod kill two year old children if the Babe was only a newborn, except to make sure the Child was included among the slaughtered. Thus, an older child makes more sense.

Also, how long after the star appeared, did it take the Wise Men to consult with one another via “Camel Express”, to gather*, and to travel to Jerusalem. “Kings”, of the status of ones who would be welcomed to the court of Herod, would not simply grab the nearest camel, or horse, and dash off to Jerusalem. They would travel with an entourage, which would take time to prepare. And how far away did they live?

Mathew 2:11 states the wise men “…were come into the house….” ,not the stable, so Joseph had time to find a new residence. Perhaps he was successful soon after the birth, but, did he have to wait for a vacancy after the tax-paying crowds dispersed?

*Assuming they were not immediate neighbors.

It will be fun to learn the whole story in time.

The Other Wise Man is a great story that adds to the Christmas Spirit. Find it here:
http://genecurtis.com/WiseMan4.htm

]]> By: mh http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-123000 mh Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:46:19 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-123000 perhaps it is a utah tradition. when I was on my mission, my mom sent me 1 gift everyday the 12 days preceeding christmas. last year, my wife did the same with a less active sister she was visiting teaching in the ward. in utah, it seems to me that on dec 26, everyone's attention turns to new year's resolutions, the bcs bowls, and everyone is tired of talking about christmas because it is so commercial prior to christmas. we have no tradition of 3 kings day, but I think it is a tradition I would like to adopt. I mentioned it to my wife, but she was not receptive. as a utah county mormon, I think she probably represents utah mormon thought better than a heretic like me. perhaps it is a utah tradition. when I was on my mission, my mom sent me 1 gift everyday the 12 days preceeding christmas. last year, my wife did the same with a less active sister she was visiting teaching in the ward. in utah, it seems to me that on dec 26, everyone’s attention turns to new year’s resolutions, the bcs bowls, and everyone is tired of talking about christmas because it is so commercial prior to christmas. we have no tradition of 3 kings day, but I think it is a tradition I would like to adopt. I mentioned it to my wife, but she was not receptive. as a utah county mormon, I think she probably represents utah mormon thought better than a heretic like me.

]]> By: chanson http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-122971 chanson Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:32:02 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-122971 <blockquote>With the 12 days of Christmas, it seems the gifts are given the 12 days before Christmas.</blockquote> Where do you get that from? The twelve days of Christmas start at Christmas and extend to Epiphany. I'll point you to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_days_of_christmas" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> as my reference, but I'll add that I've never heard of the tradition any other way.

With the 12 days of Christmas, it seems the gifts are given the 12 days before Christmas.

Where do you get that from? The twelve days of Christmas start at Christmas and extend to Epiphany. I’ll point you to Wikipedia as my reference, but I’ll add that I’ve never heard of the tradition any other way.

]]> By: mormoninvestigator http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-122964 mormoninvestigator Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:03:38 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-122964 My 15 year old son's mother is hispanic and yes they celebrate 3 kings day and yes that side of his family gives the "best" gifts on that day rather than Christmas. Although they do a gift exchange on Christmas as well. In his spanish class last year at school they put alot of emphasis on that 3 kings day tradition which I thought was strange...maybe the "war" on Christmas that the far-right is always yapping about forgot to invade the beachhead of 3 kings day...LOL ;) My 15 year old son’s mother is hispanic and yes they celebrate 3 kings day and yes that side of his family gives the “best” gifts on that day rather than Christmas. Although they do a gift exchange on Christmas as well.

In his spanish class last year at school they put alot of emphasis on that 3 kings day tradition which I thought was strange…maybe the “war” on Christmas that the far-right is always yapping about forgot to invade the beachhead of 3 kings day…LOL ;)

]]> By: Stan http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/13/12-days-of-christmas-and-3-kings-day/#comment-122930 Stan Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:22:12 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8576#comment-122930 The legend of Prester John is also associated with the Magi. It was told that he was directly descended from one of them. They were thought to be sorcerers by some and the word Magic is derived from Magi. The legend of Prester John is also associated with the Magi. It was told that he was directly descended from one of them. They were thought to be sorcerers by some and the word Magic is derived from Magi.

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