As Deutsche Welle notes, the traditions and customs of most European countries have preserved January 6 as a holiday. In many countries, January 6 is celebrated as 'Three Kings Day'. These are the three kings who brought gifts to the cradle (or, more precisely, to the manger) of the newborn Jesus. It is believed that they brought them on January 6.
Actually, the Gospel speaks not of kings, but of shepherds or Magi (wise men, magi) who came to the infant Jesus with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But sometime in the 12th or 14th century, theologians decided that the evangelists called these three Magi or shepherds in a figurative sense: the gifts they brought were far too valuable. Thus, the three Magi turned into three kings, and they even received names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar (or Belshazzar).
Their relics are kept today in the famous Cologne Cathedral, in a luxurious golden reliquary, access to which is open to the public only once a year – as one might guess, on January 6.
The feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on this day and known in the Western Church as Epiphany (Theophany), is one of the oldest Christian holidays. It appeared in the church calendar as early as the 2nd century. Today, children dressed as the three gospel kings go from house to house, singing songs about the Star of Bethlehem (for which they are called 'Sternsinger' – 'star singers') and collecting money for charitable purposes.
By the way, although the collection of donations for charitable purposes on 'Three Kings Day' is organized by the church in Germany, it has long ceased to be a church or religious tradition and is perceived as a humanitarian action.
In Italy, on January 6, the traditional holiday of the witch Befana is celebrated. Many do not even know that its origins are also to be found in the ancient Epiphany, and the name Befana is a distortion of Epiphany. According to legend, Befana heard from the shepherds about the birth of Jesus and wanted to see him, but she was late. The Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Magi, had already set.
The first mentions of the witch Befana appeared more than 400 years ago. That means she is about 200 years older than the familiar Father Frost. Befana does not travel on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but, as befits a witch, on a broomstick. Instead of a red hat with white fur trim, she wears a black pointed cap or a black scarf. Befana is hunchbacked, and she has a wart on her nose.
Surprisingly, it is this fright, very similar to the Russian Baba Yaga, that brings gifts to Italian children on the night of January 6. When going to bed, children call the witch, inviting her, trying to butter her up: 'Befana, good sorceress, come when all people sleep. In broken shoes, in a 'à la Romana' cap, – long live, long live Befana!'
When it gets dark and the whole house falls asleep, Befana flies in and puts sweets, nuts, and tangerines into socks specially placed for this purpose. In recent decades, this tradition has taken an interesting turn, merging with the 'star singers'. In Italy, it is not kings who go door to door, but... witches – that is, children dressed as Befana, with brooms in hand. They wish the people who open the door all the best, health, wealth, success in work and personal life, and then collect tribute. Not donations, but precisely tribute: candies, cookies, nuts – in short, everything that the witch Befana used to bring them.
An interesting tradition also exists in France. Here, on January 6, they bake the so-called king cakes (galette des rois). In one of these cakes, they bake a small figurine or, as was done in ancient times, simply a bean (fève).
The cakes are usually eaten at the family table. The youngest chooses first. The one who finds the bean or figurine is declared king of the day. They put a little crown on them, and they become the head of the family for this day. Well, children in any case receive sweets and small gifts.
Needless to say, the roots of this tradition are also in the Gospel story of the Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus.