Tres Reyes Magos In Spanish Christian tradition, the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ Child in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12 are referred to as Los Tres Reyes Magos Los Reyes Magos de Oriente, or Los Santos Reyes. These Magi or Magos from the East are not named in Matthew. Tradition in Ethiopian Christianity gives their names as Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater. Catholic and Western Protestant traditions name them as Gaspar/Caspar (Kaspar, Jaspar, Gathaspa), Melchior (Melichior, Melchyor), and Balthasar (Balthazar, Balthassar,Bithisarea). It is by the names from Catholic and Western Protestant traditions that they are known as in most USA Latin American communities and in African American communities. Identifying the Magi as reyes or kings is linked to Old Testament prophesies in Isaiah 60:3, Psalm 68:29, and Psalm 72:10 that have been interpreted to mean the Messiah would be worshipped by the kings of the Earth. Isaiah 60:3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Psalm 68:29: Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. Psalm 72:10: The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. In recent Christian tradition, the Magi are often portrayed as three kings of different lands. In Spain, each one of the Reyes is supposed to represent a different continent: Asia, Europe, and Africa. The swarthy skinned king, sometimes Arabian or Chinese, represents Asia. The pale skinned king represents Europe. The dark skinned king represents Africa. The Tres Reyes Magos brought three symbolic gifts for the Christ Child: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In Spanish these are oro (gold), olíbano (frankincense), and mirra (myrrh); in Latin, aurum (gold), tus (frankincense), and myrrha (myrrh); in Hebrew, zahav (gold), levona (frankincense), and mur (myrrh). Gold representing a crown is a symbol of kingship on Earth. It is also a symbol celestial or heavenly rulership via the association of gold with the sun. Frankincense is an aromatic resin which was burned for thousands of years as incense, particularly in religious rites. This sweet smelling incense is a symbol of both priestship and divinity. The myrrh is generally assumed to be myrrh oil, a perfume created from reddish-brown resinous material collected from the myrrh tree. The holy oil traditionally used by the Eastern Orthodox Church for performing the sacraments of chrismation and unction is traditionally scented with myrrh. Throughout the Mid-East, myrrh oil was used as beautifying oil and perfume. Yet, myrrh oil was also used as an embalming oil and is therefore as a symbol of mortality and death. Individual traditions vary about which the Reyes presents which gift. Often the Asian king is depicted as presenting the myrrh. The European king is depicted as presenting the gold. The African king is depicted as presenting the Frankincense. Tradition also varies as to which of the names are signed to the Reyes. However, Gaspar/Caspar is often Asian; Melchior is often European; Balthasar is often African. The account in Matthew does not state that Tres Reyes Magos arrived on the night of the Nativity. As Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem until circumcision of the infant Jesus at the Temple, the kings--according to Catholic and Western Protestant traditions--arrived on January 6.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 05:26:41 +0000
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