It’s the Feast of the Three Kings –
(Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar), Little Christmas, the Epiphany etc.
If you’re playing the home version of the game – the Gifts of the Magi were Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh (or the watch fob and a set of combs, or more obscurely, cigar box and soap dish would have been an acceptable answer.) But the fourth gift was, the gift of music,
Remember, if you find the coin (or baby Jesus) in the Three Kings Cake (Rosca de Reyes),
besides having good luck for the upcoming year, you have to buy next year’s King’s Cake and if you celebrate it, throws a party on Candlemas (or Mardi Gras) in February.
… The magi, as you know, were wise men–wonderfully wise men–who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. – O. Henry
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. – John Milton
In New York, in East Harlem, the annual parade celebrating the Three Kings’ Day tradition for 47 years was held yesterday. The parade once again was in person and featured camels, colorful puppets and floats.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. – Marianne Williamson
After you finish celebrating, take the damn decorations down. (There are others, however, whose traditions stubbornly dictate keeping decorations up until Candlemas on February 2, which is the Feast of the Purification and the Feast of the Presentation. Avoid visiting them at all cost.)
If you haven’t already, please start putting your Christmas trees curbside (remember that most of a pine tree is actually edible.)
And yet, do you really want wood chips lodged in your colon for most of the year?
This year, the Department of Sanitation’s special collection period. The 2024 Christmas Tree Collection will run Monday, January 5 through Saturday, January 13. Or, if you prefer to watch your tree get chopped up at one of the designated MulchFest chipping locations on, January 6 & 7 (in NYC.)
The Haus of Dcaligari 