2024 Home for the Holidays Magazine

Page 41 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News 6, originating from the Church in the East, remained a marginal event in the West. According to the New Testament story these ‘Magi” were guided to Bethlehem by a star (Matt 2:1-18). So, they were probably not so much “kings” as astronomers or better yet astrologers. It is speculated that behind this story of eastern visitors coming to worship in Israel is a prophecy in Numbers 24:17 where God promises a “star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Also proposed as Old Testament sources are Isaiah 63:3 (kings will come to Israel) and Psalm 72:10 (kings from far away will come). In the early Middle Ages this memorable story of three royal visitors became the basis for a Christmas stage pantomime that was performed on stage in most churches on January 6, right before the serving of the mass. Also, following the Crusades to the Holy Land, alleged bones of the three kings were brought as relics to Europe. As a result, Cologne in Germany, where the relics fi nally wound up, had become an important destination for pilgrims to visit (and now for tourists). I remember when I was growing up in Belgium seeing children on January 6, dressed in sheets with scarves on their heads (representing some kind of “crown”), going from house to house asking for candy or some other handout. They would have a stick or a broom upon which they had nailed a star (made of wood or paper). They would sing a song that explained that they had come from afar and were in dire need of a new hat--and didn’t want their mother to know the old hat had worn out. This song is still being sung today: “Drie koningen, drie koningen, geef mij een nieuwe hoed.” Anyone interested in this strange tradition can fi nd it on YouTube. Just look for “Drie koningen, drie koningen” (sluipschutters drie koningen)! Funny how Bible stories, over the years, have become part of today’s Christmas traditions! [John Castelein]

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