THESE NEW OLD TRADITIONS

The conventional telling of the Christmas story reports that three “Wise Men,” “kings from the East,” or three Magi ignited the custom of gift giving by bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Baby Jesus on Epiphany (12 days after Christmas). Most likely these three travelers were not kings at all, but rather, Persian Zoroastrian priests or missionaries. They were also astronomers (not astrologers) and had been following a kind of cosmic event, often referred to as the “Star of Bethlehem.”

Let’s investigate the symbolic significance of the gifts they brought:

Gold
Considered valuable, used as money and precious across all cultures, gold represented a dear gift for a king.

Frankincense
A highly valued commodity, this rare resin is from the sweet smelling, milky sap of the Boswellia tree. Widely used by priests in the region, it illustrates Christ’s significance and future role as a prophet and priest. When burned, it produced a white smoke that symbolized the prayers and praises of the faithful ascending to heaven. Because the ancients often burned frankincense during religious rituals, this gift symbolizes sacrifice, Christ’s divinity. Frankincense is also a medicinal herb used for treating depression and anxiety.

Myrrh
Used as an embalming material in the anointing of the dead, this expensive substance marked Christ as one who would die. Because myrrh was used in the embalming or anointing of the dead, it came to represent mortality, suffering, and sorrow in general. Myrrh is also a medicinal herb used both in Middle Eastern countries and China as a wound healer with strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Even before the baby Jesus received Myrrh as a gift, Myrrh was one of the most desired and most sought after items in the world.

Any way you slice it, these gifts were pretty much a lame thing to give a baby, not to mention choking hazards. But, as anyone who has been at a baby shower in which a sterling silver Tiffany baby rattle was a gift can attest, sometimes the giving is more for Mom and Dad than kiddo.

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acupuncturist. bourbon enthusiast. knitterbakerlover.