THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
ENDS ON THREE KINGS DAY

www.examiner.com - On January 6, many religious people still celebrate the Epiphany or Three Kings Day which is the 12th day of Christmas. This is the day in which the biblical three wise men reached baby Jesus, Mother Mary and earthly father, Joseph, in the Bethlehem manger.  Epiphany is the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from the evening of December 25th until the morning of January 6th. The essence of Epiphany is the revealing of God to the Gentiles. In the incarnation, God's light shines on all persons and all nations. Today, is no ordinary day, but the day baby Jesus was visited by three kings bearing gifts to the newborn King; the gifts were Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold. The three kings, Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar follow the star which appeared in the night sky not knowing where this journey would take them.  During their travels they encounter danger and many difficulties along the way. 

The three kings discover that they must each give up what they hold most dear.  The star leads the Magi to a shelter house for animals in the town of Betlehem in Judea.  There they find the newborn King, baby Jesus, lying on straw in a manger.  They return home joyful and eager to share the truth with others.  This is the story of the Epiphany.  
The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or "to reveal."  These 12 days give us time to meditate on the true meaning of Christmas and give thanks for the blessings that the holiday season brings. It is a time to reflect on Christmas memories of family, children, traditions, holiday foods, and special gifts.  There is something special about a lit-up Christmas tree in an otherwise darkened room, while pondering the wonder of our Lord Jesus Christ born in a manger.

Today, January 6, is Epiphany also known as Three Kings Day. The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ you have heard sung about in Christmas songs are commonly known as the days that it took for the three wise men to travel to see the baby Jesus and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. In this story there is a clear parallel to baby Krishna who was also presented with gifts that included sandalwood and perfumes - about three thousand years earlier in Vrindavana, India.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The native land of the three saints has frequently been placed in the Arabian area or, as the attribute of origin ‘from the East’ rather leads one to expect, in the Indo-Iranian region. The Indian thesis of their origin is nowadays steadily gaining adherents. ... But where did the Magi come from? What is East, seen from Jerusalem? ... It was perfectly natural for the rishis from India offer the traditional gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.” Vedic custom is to offer presents to a newly born child. See SB 10.5.10, etc. Later, during anna-prasana samskara (rite of passage, “first grains”) at six months of age, children are offered various items like rice, gold, coins and books to choose from and thus show their inclinations in future life.

Vedic Knowledge Online - Vedic Connections
“Ancient Vedic World - Christianity”
“3 Wise Men of Bible were from India”
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/connections/Christianity.php#6