The Magi: history and symbols
According to tradition, the Three Wise Men, three in all, came from the East to pay homage to Jesus and offer him three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We invite you to discover the history, symbols and traditions related to these characters.
Photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash
History of the Magi
According to tradition, three Wise Men from the East headed for Bethlehem guided by the light of a star.
When they discovered the baby Jesus in the stable, they knelt before him as a sign of respect and offered him gold, myrrh, and frankincense.
These characters, known as the Magi, are only mentioned in the Gospel according to Matthew.
According to the text of the Bible, they are not kings but only magicians. Their names and numbers are not specified. Guided by a star «rising in the east», they find the birthplace of Jesus and offer him gifts:
«They entered the house, found the child with Mary his mother, and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.» (Matthew, II:11).
Who are the wise? These wise men are Baltasar, Gaspard and Melchor. Baltasar is described with a black face, descends from Cham, son of Noah and represents Arabia. He offers gold (reserved for kings), a symbol of Jesus’ royalty.
Melchor is described as young, with an Asian face and represents India. He offers incense (used to honor God), a symbol of Jesus’ divinity.
Gaspard, on the other hand, represents Persia and is depicted as an old man with white hair.
He offers myrrh (used to embalm the dead), a symbol of the fact that Jesus was also a man, and announces his death on the cross.
Refusing to denounce Jesus as «King of the Jews» to King Herod, the Magi return to their respective lands.
One calendar day is reserved to celebrate the adoration of Jesus by Gaspard, Melchor and Baltasar, that is, the epiphany (in Greek the apparition) that takes place on January 6.
Note that this day is not a public holiday and that traditionally the epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday of January around the famous galette des rois. To memorize the names of the three sages, it is easy to remember two mnemonics: «Mega ball» or «Mega ball».
three symbolic gifts
According to a traditional interpretation, the three gifts brought by the Magi symbolize three aspects of Jesus: gold symbolizes royalty – incense, used for worship, symbolizes the divinity of Christ – myrrh, which was used to embalm the dead, reminds us that he too is truly human and mortal.
From the number of gifts offered, it was deduced that there were three Wise Men. This number is also symbolic because it evokes the Trinity.
At the end of the 13th century, Jacques de Voragine proposed this interpretation in «La Légende dorée» and produced a portrait of the three Wise Men:
«The first of the Magi was called Melchor, he was an old man with white hair and a long beard. He offered gold to the Lord as his king, gold that signifies the royalty of Christ.
The second, named Gaspard, young, beardless, red in color, offered Jesus, in incense, homage to his Divinity.
The third, with a black face and full beard, was called Baltasar; the myrrh in his hands reminded him that the Son had to die.»
The names of the Magi
The names chosen by tradition for the Magi are Gaspard, Melchor and Baltasar.
These names first appear in a sixth-century manuscript, now kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.
In the Golden Legend, Jacques de Voragine names them in three different languages
:- Apelio, Américo and Damascus in Latin
– Galgalat, Malgalat and Sarathin in Hebrew
– Caspar, Baltasar and Melchor in Greek.
Epiphany and other traditions
The Three Wise Men, whose origin is still obscure today, entered the folklore surrounding the Christmas festivities.
Tradition says that they are among the cantons of Provence and that they watch over the Child Jesus in the Christmas manger at the foot of the Christmas tree.
are also celebrated January 6thEpiphany day, when the family shares the famous «galette des rois» (king’s cake)…
For a long time, especially among Eastern Christians, Epiphany Day was a more important date than Christmas Day because it celebrated the presentation of the Child God to the human world.
In Spain, it is the Three Wise Men who put toys in children’s shoes on January 6th. In Finland and Russia, Santa Claus is said to be the fourth wise man.
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Jesus of Nazareth the greatest influencer in history
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