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When is the feast of the 3 kings. What is the church name for it? What does it signify? What is the custom concerning gifts?

User Hellatan
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Final answer:

The feast of the Three Kings is celebrated on January 6th and is known as Epiphany or Theophany in the church, signifying the revelation of Jesus as the divine Son and the visit of the magi. Gift-giving customs on this day reflect the gifts brought by the magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The feast of the Three Kings is commonly celebrated on January 6th. This day is also known in the church as Epiphany or Theophany. It signifies the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and commemorates the visit of the three wise men, or magi, namely Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, to the infant Jesus in Bethlehem. These figures, representing different cultures and races, symbolize the recognition of Jesus by the wider world outside of Judaism.

In many cultures, the custom concerning gifts on Epiphany involves exchanging presents to mirror the offerings that the magi brought to Jesus. These gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh had symbolic meanings: gold representing kingship, frankincense symbolizing deity, and myrrh foreshadowing Jesus' mortality.

User Florian Schaetz
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