Ya' can scout around an' git all sorts of stories on what really went down--is it real? Were they kings or wise men? Doesn't "magi" mean magician? The scholars I lean toward say they wuz Persians (wif' names like Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar that's a good bet) -- and iffin' youse been in the catacombs of Priscilla in Rome ya know the early Christians (200 AD) painted the Magi wif' Persian robes. The Wise fellas wuz a sort of priestly caste of learned men whose wisdom came from reconnaissance, from knowing the good stuff from several cultures. An' ya' can bet they had heard the Hebrew prophecies::
"A star shall rise out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring from Israel." (Numbers 24:14)
Now, I reckon, when that massive star began winkin' at em, their pooled wisdom decided, "Uh, no. Ain't never seen a star the likes of that. Hop a camel an' let's us'uns go see whasup."
The Feast of the Epiphany is January 6th. An Aunty favorite, cause " We Three Kings of Orient Are" is one of mah favorites. We only ever sing it at church on this day, the official end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
