Why is Three Kings Day celebrated? What to know about the holiday's cultural and religious meaning

Camille Fine, USA TODAY
·2 min read
13
Lithuanians dressed as the Three Kings parade during the Epiphany Day celebrations in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. Epiphany, the 12th night of Christmas, marks the day the three wise men visited Christ.
Lithuanians dressed as the Three Kings parade during the Epiphany Day celebrations in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. Epiphany, the 12th night of Christmas, marks the day the three wise men visited Christ.

Many children around the world woke up Friday to open Christmas presents from the Three Kings, or Reyes Magos in Spanish, to mark the end of this holiday season.

Three Kings Day is filled with rich customs, family gatherings and festive parades celebrated on Jan. 6 – or Jan. 19 for many Orthodox Christians who use the Julian calendar, according to National Geographic.

The holiday, which falls on the last of the 12 days of Christmas, is widely celebrated in many Latin American and Caribbean countries. In some, Three Kings Day is primarily also known by the name Epiphany. In the Orthodox Church, the holiday is known as Theophany and commemorates Christ's baptism.

Why is Three Kings Day celebrated?

Three Kings Day is both a religious celebration and a cultural one, according to the National Museum of American History. It originated from the celebration of the longstanding religious holiday Epiphany, which ties back to Jesus Christ's birth and baptism.

While Three Kings Day is celebrated for just one day, Epiphany is celebrated for days or weeks depending on the culture. The holiday is a reflective time for many communities of faith, who pay homage to three kings mentioned in the biblical account of Jesus' birth. Many families don't believe the holidays are "officially over" until the three wise men are celebrated.

Figures of Joseph, Jesus and Mary are paraded during the "Cabalgata de Reyes" Epiphany parade in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Tens of thousands of adults and children are packing city and town sidewalks across Spain to watch colorful parades on the eve of the Epiphany, the day Christians observe the biblical visit of the Three Kings to the baby Jesus.

Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Paraguay and Cuba hold big celebrations. In the U.S., Latinx and Hispanic communities commemorate Three Kings Day as a way to honor their own cultures and customs.

The first known references suggest that Christians commonly held Epiphany rituals by the fourth century A.D., according to Concordia Seminary.

What are some Three Kings Day traditions?

The holiday is known by different names in dozens of different cultures and countries and holds distinct traditions in each.

One tradition is for children to leave grass or hay out for the three kings in exchange for a gift. In Spain, instead of grass, children place a small shoe underneath pillow with a gift wish list.

In Mexico, a staple dish of the holiday is Rosca de Reyes, a large oval-shaped bread with dried fruit decorations and a baby Jesus figurine hidden inside.

Music plays an important part in holiday traditions, and parades of people will go house to house to sing carols and play instruments.

Volunteers prepare to distribute "Rosca de Reyes" cakes, a typical Spanish sponge cake to celebrate the Three Kings' Day, a day before the cavalcade parade in Pamplona, northern Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. The parade symbolizes the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus, marked in Spain and many Latin American countries.
Volunteers prepare to distribute "Rosca de Reyes" cakes, a typical Spanish sponge cake to celebrate the Three Kings' Day, a day before the cavalcade parade in Pamplona, northern Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. The parade symbolizes the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus, marked in Spain and many Latin American countries.
The Pittsburg High School Marching Band, California takes part in the "Cabalgata de Reyes" Epiphany parade in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Tens of thousands of adults and children are packing city and town sidewalks across Spain to watch colorful parades on the eve of the Epiphany, the day Christians observe the biblical visit of the Three Kings to the baby Jesus.
Bright Star of Bethlehem troupe members parade during The Three Kings Day celebrations in the Morro da Formiga slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Epiphany, celebrated annually on Jan. 6, marks the Biblical journey of The Three Kings; Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, to visit baby Jesus.
Bright Star of Bethlehem troupe members parade during The Three Kings Day celebrations in the Morro da Formiga slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Epiphany, celebrated annually on Jan. 6, marks the Biblical journey of The Three Kings; Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, to visit baby Jesus.

Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team. 

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: It's Three Kings Day: Why Epiphany is celebrated Jan. 6, what it means