The Three Kings for your little one: from the star in the East to shoes on the balcony

What the oldest account tells us

The story is in the Gospel of Matthew: when Jesus was born, some wise men from the East saw a star and followed it until they found the child with his mother, Mary. They offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh, and went back to their own country by another road.

That's all your little one needs: some wise men who watched the sky, a long journey and three gifts. Gold was given to kings; frankincense and myrrh are resins that smell lovely, and they were burnt or used in perfumes.

The rest came over the centuries (this bit is for you): it's often said that the names Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar already appear in a sixth-century mosaic in Ravenna, and Balthazar has been painted with dark skin since the end of the fifteenth century.

A story to read to them: Date, the smallest camel

A very, very long time ago, in the East, three wise men (the ones we now call the Three Kings) looked up at the sky every night. One night they saw a new star.

“It's calling us,” said Melchior.

They loaded the chests onto their camels. The smallest one, a camel called Date, was given Balthazar's.

They walked behind the star across deserts of cold sand. Date's legs felt heavy.

“Is it much further?” he asked every night.

“A little less far than yesterday,” Caspar would tell him, scratching him behind the ear.

At last, the star stopped above a small house. Inside was Mary with her son, Jesus, a very peaceful baby. The wise men opened their chests: the gold gleamed, the frankincense smelt like a party and the myrrh smelt of a forest after rain.

The baby looked at Date and smiled at him. And Date forgot all about being tired.

They went home by another road. And they say that, ever since, every 5 January they follow the star again to leave presents for children. Date always comes last: he stops at every house for a drink.

That's why, on that night, we leave him a bowl of water.

Read Date's questions in a tired voice: little ones love repeating “Is it much further?”.

From 5 to 6 January at home: letter, cabalgata, shoes and roscón

In Spain, every home spends that night in its own way:

1. The letter, in December: to the Royal Postman or to the Kings' pages, whom many town halls bring in a few days before, or handed over in person at the cabalgata.
2. The cabalgata, the Three Kings' parade, on the afternoon of the 5th, with sweets. Alcoy prides itself on having the oldest, dating from the 19th century and declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.
3. The shoes, before bed: on the balcony, by the door or at the foot of the tree, depending on the home. Next to them, water for the camels and a little turrón (Spanish nougat) for the Kings.
4. Early to bed: the Kings only come by when the whole house is asleep.
5. The morning of the 6th: the presents and, sometimes, a lump of coal… made of sugar.
6. The roscón, the ring-shaped cake for breakfast: whoever finds the little figure wears the crown; in many homes, whoever gets the bean pays for it.

“How do they get to every house?” and other questions on that night

• “How do they get to every house in one night?” The star shows them the way, and that night is magic: they can get far more done than we can. That's why we have to be asleep.
• “Why do they come on camels?” Because they come from very far away, across deserts, and a camel can keep walking on sand for days. They arrive thirsty: that's why we leave water.
• “What if I've been naughty?” The Kings don't bring coal as a punishment: the coal they leave is made of sugar and you can eat it. It's their way of saying “we know, and we've come anyway”.
• “How do they know what I asked for, if I gave my letter to the page?” The pages take the letters to the royal camp and the Kings read every single one before they set off. That's why it's a good idea to write it early.

And if you'd also like a book about this night

Since November, IrayaBooks has had a story about this night: The Star of the Three Kings. In it, your little one draws their letter, leaves water for the camels and can't get to sleep. When a camel pokes its head round the door, their night with the three Kings begins. It's for children aged 2 to 8, in verse, and they're drawn with their own face in the scenes where they appear; before you pay, you see their cover.

It costs €39.99, and delivery, €4.99, is paid separately. To have it before 6 January, order it before 17 December.

Our books

The Star of the Three KingsAges 2 to 8Olentzero's LanternAges 2 to 8Santa's Magical NightAges 2 to 8

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