January 6-7 are also holidays in Western European countries
How shepherds became kings
As Deutsche Welle notes, the Gospel actually speaks not of kings, but of shepherds or magi (wise men, magicians) 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 men magi or shepherds in a figurative sense: the gifts they brought were too precious. Thus, the three magi turned into three kings, and even received names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
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 called Epiphany in the Western Church, 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.
Protective inscription
On the doors of apartments whose owners donate money, children write with chalk the first Latin letters of the three kings' names along with the digits of the new year, often splitting the year in half: first, on the left, the first two digits of the year, then the Latin "C" (Caspar), "M" (Melchior), and "B" (Balthazar), then the last two digits of the year.
All this resembles a mysterious formula: 20 + C + M + B + 18. It is believed that such an inscription protects the house from evil spirits. Therefore, it is often interpreted as the Latin phrase "Christus Mansionem Benedicat," meaning "Christ bless this house."
By the way, although the collection of donations for charitable purposes on the Day of the Three Holy Kings is organized by the church in Germany, it has long ceased to be a church or religious tradition and is perceived as a humanitarian campaign.
Older than Santa Claus
In Italy, on January 6, the traditional holiday of the witch Befana is celebrated. Many do not even know that its origins should also be sought 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 had guided the magi, had already set.
The first mentions of the witch Befana appeared more than 400 years ago. That is, she is about two hundred years older than the Santa Claus we are all used to. Befana does not travel on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but, as befits a witch, on a broomstick. Instead of a red cap with white fur trim, she wears a black pointed hat (or a black scarf). Befana is hunchbacked, and she has a wart on her nose.
The witch who brings gifts
Surprisingly, it is this frightful creature, very similar to the Russian Baba Yaga, who 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 witch, fly in when everyone is asleep. In broken shoes, in a hat 'a la romana,' – 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 the stockings 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 from house to house, but witches – that is, children dressed in Befana costumes, with brooms in their hands.
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.
King cakes
An interesting tradition exists in France. On January 6, they bake so-called king cakes (galette des rois). A small figurine or, as was done in ancient times, simply a bean (fève) is baked into one of these cakes.
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. A small crown is placed on their head, and they become the head of the family for that day. Well, children in any case receive sweets and small gifts.
Needless to say, the roots of this tradition also lie in the Gospel story of the magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus?