Christmas Giving

Christmas Giving

The custom of gift giving at Christmas is said to have started with the three Wise Men. The Wise Men were Magi. Who were the Magi? The word comes from a Greek word magoi, which comes from the Persian (Iranian) word for a group of priests. This group of priests was known for their great knowledge and ability to interpret dreams. They were the leaders of the state religion of Persia.

Daniel in the Bible who was a prophet six hundred years before Jesus was called the Chief of the Magi. He made an incredible number of prophecies that came true. The Angel Gabriel told him the exact day Jesus would present Himself as King to Jerusalem.

Daniel probably told the Magi about the vision and even the star telling of the Christ's birth. The Magi were prepared for the birth and followed the star to Bethlehem. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and departed home away from Jerusalem and King Herod.

These worshippers brought gifts for Jesus that were also prophetic. The gifts were gold, frankincense and myrrh and foretold of Jesus being a king, priest and savior in the same order. Frankincense was a spice used in priestly duties and myrrh was an embalming ointment to be used at His death. Most babies were not given such gifts and the custom of gift giving continues to this day. Some say the custom was started by the Magi, but the first Christmas gift was Jesus Himself given by our Heavenly Father for all to believe in and receive the gift of eternal life.

However, in the third century the Magi were viewed as kings and then by the sixth century they were given names. The names were Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa.

The land of Persia was a great distance from Jerusalem and took months not days or hours to travel so the Wise Men could not have arrived the night of Jesus' birth but much later.