Today, the first Sunday after January 1, is celebrated as the Feast of the Three Kings. In the church calendar, it is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, which reference materials say is “celebrated on January 6 each year, though it’s often observed on “Epiphany Sunday” – the Sunday between January 2 and 8.”

The Three Kings brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the Christ Child. The Christmas tradition of gift-giving thus dates back to these three gift bearers. The roots of this celebration was sometime between the third and sixth centuries.

The tradition of gift giving is continued on the Feast of the Three Kings, with children expecting to get goodies in the socks hung on the wall, or, in their shoes where they leave notes for the Three Kings.  In Manila before the pandemic, three men on horseback clothed like the Three Kings of the East go riding along the streets of Ermita, giving gifts to children, a tradition started many years ago by a private club.

For many months, the spirit of the season kept the tradition of gift-giving and inspired more acts of kindness, generosity, cheerfulness, and courtesy.

The shopping malls and street markets were full because of this tradition to give gifts to show one’s love or appreciation to family, friends, and colleagues. Church and private groups distributed more food, clothes, and gifts to the homeless and those in far-flung communities.  Strangers bought extra meals at the drive thru to give to street children. Acts of kindness were obvious in the past months of the yuletide season.

That season finally ends today, the Feast of the Epiphany.

But let us not end the acts and words of kindness, the cheerfulness and patience, the generosity to share one’s blessings – that we had done in the past months. We can’t take down and pack away kindness like we do the Christmas tree.  If we had it in us a month ago, it is still there.

Before we go back to our routine, today would be a good time to think of what we can do to make our part of the country not just a better place, but a kinder place – one act of kindness at a time. Think about simple gestures such as buying an extra sandwich for a street kid, donating to a foundation’s feeding program, buying the food products of a neighbor, giving a generous tip to the delivery rider, sharing your lunch with the building guard. There are many ways to continue the tradition of gift-giving.
 

Give kindness as a gift.
 

May the Three Kings’ act of giving gifts inspire us to be generous with kindness throughout the year.