Each year, as we approach the holiday season, our preparations
for Christmas include revisiting the events surrounding the
birth of Our Lord. Bethlehem, (1) the shepherds, and the angels
are familiar to us all. But not much is generally known about
the mysterious "Magi" who came to worship the infant Jesus. The
following background may be helpful to stimulate conversations
around the fireplace as our thoughts turn to this incredible
event from which we measure our very calendar. Most of what we
associate with the "Magi" is from early church traditions. Most
have assumed there were three of them, since they brought three
specific gifts (but the Biblical text doesn't number them). They
are called "Magi" from the Latinized form of the Greek word
magoi, transliterated from the Persian, for a select sect of
priests. (Our word "magic" comes from the same root.) As the
years passed, the traditions became increasingly embellished. By
the 3rd century they were viewed as kings. By the 6th century
they had names: Bithis