Three Kings' Day
A youth dressed as one of the Three Wise Men gives candy to people during the celebration of Epiphany or Three Kings' Day in Masaya City, Nicaragua, Jan. 6, 2014. Reuters/Oswaldo Rivas

Saturday marks Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, honoring the three wise men, or magi, who according to Christian mythology, followed a star to find baby Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and gave him gifts the night of his birth. Observed annually on Jan. 6, this Christian holiday is also known as Día De Los Reyes Magos.

This day has been separate from Christmas since at least the third century and different churches recognize it on different dates. For example, Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday on Jan. 19. Traditions also vary depending on the location. The word Epiphany comes from Greek and literally means "manifestation." The six Sundays which follow the Epiphany are known by Christians as the time of manifestation.

The essence of this day has been discussed in the Bible with the key scene in Matthew 2:11: "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

The kings, named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, represent Arabia, Europe and Africa, respectively.

Here are some other facts about Three Kings Day:

1. The kings' Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar gave Jesus gold, the essential oil frankincense and the resin myrrh respectively.

2. The kings brought their gifts in vessels called ciboria.

3. To celebrate this day, some children leave hay in their shoes for the kings' camels to eat while some leave letters to the kings.

4. Hispanic communities often serve rosca de reyes, a ring-shaped cake with various colors on top. The rosca de reyes is baked with at least one small baby Jesus figurine inside. It is said that if someone finds the figurine, he/she has to throw a party for Día de la Candelaria in February.

5. Other traditional foods for Three Kings Day include Mexican hot chocolate and tamales.

6. Three Kings Day activities often include the singing of aguinaldos, or Christmas carols.

7. In Italy, people tell the story of La Befana, a woman who decided not to go with the three kings on their trip to Bethlehem.

8. In Lebanon, members of the Maronite Church go to midnight mass and pray for their dead ancestors.

9. Pope Francis will hold the Vatican's annual Holy Mass for the Epiphany in St Peter's Basilica in Rome at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. EST).

10. To mark this day, Eastern European and Greek Orthodox priests throw a cross into water and divers compete to find it first.

RELATED STORIES