For centuries, January 6 has been celebrated in many countries as the Feast of the Three Kings. During Christian church services on this day, people hear the Bible story of the Three Wise Men worshipping the infant Jesus in the manger.

In many Catholic parishes, homes are blessed in the days before and after Epiphany. Sometimes, groups of "star singers" go from house to house asking for donations for disadvantaged children around the world. These carol singers dress up imaginatively as the Three Wise Men.

They write the year and the letters C + M + B on the doorframes of houses. This stands for “Christus mansionem benedicat,” meaning “May Christ bless this house.”

This custom is based on an account in the Bible. According to the story, Jesus was born in a stable near the town of Bethlehem. A few days after his birth, three richly dressed men from the East are said to have come to King Herod in Jerusalem. They asked about the newborn King of the Jews. They had followed a star and come to pay him homage.

King Herod sent them to Bethlehem. The three men set off. The star is said to have gone ahead of them and stopped where the child lay in a manger. According to the Bible, they brought precious gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Many painters have depicted this scene time and again.

Over the following centuries, many legends grew up around these men. They were described as wise men, astrologers and magicians. Old paintings sometimes show four people, and sometimes only two.

They were often depicted wearing Persian or Syrian headwear. Later, people came to believe that these three men were kings representing the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

From then on, they were also called the “Three Wise Men.” They are said to have been named Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. It is also said that these kings were later ordained as Christian bishops and buried together in a shared tomb.

In 326, Empress Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, traveled through Palestine and had various objects and relics said to be associated with Jesus brought to Rome. Among other things, she is said to have found the tomb of the Three Wise Men. Their remains were venerated as relics in Italy.

These relics are said to have been kept in a monastery in Milan in 1161. That year, the city was besieged by Emperor Barbarossa. He threatened to kill the mayor of Milan. To save the mayor, who was her brother, the abbess handed over the saints’ remains.

The emperor gave them to Rainald, the Archbishop of Cologne at the time. He had them taken to Cologne Cathedral, where they are still kept in a precious reliquary. It was not until 1903 that parts of them were returned to Milan.

In Spain and some South American countries, Epiphany is celebrated in a special way. Parades and processions are held, usually on the evening of January 5. Children in these countries do not receive their presents until January 6.

This is meant to remind us that the Three Kings presented their gifts to the baby Jesus a few days after his birth. In some parts of Italy, gifts are also given on 6 January. That night, a woman called “La Befana” is said to be out and about. She is said to be a witch whose house the Three Kings once passed.

But Befana didn’t have time to come along that day. Later, she went looking for the baby Jesus. Since she couldn’t find him, she has supposedly flown from house to house every year on Epiphany ever since, handing out gifts.