01/07/2026
January 6, 2026! Today is the real "Kings Day"...yes, "Three Kings Day" (i.e., the Three Wise Men, or Magi—Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar). Today celebrates the day when the Three Wise Men visited the Christ child. The Magi. Those who know the story of the Magi know history, the Bible, mystery, astonishment, knowledge of things unknown, and people who appear on the stage of history in a sensational way. The Magi, often called the "Three Wise Men" or "Kings," were mysterious astrologers from the East, regarding the Epiphany. Melchior was from Persia, Caspar was from India, and Balthazar was from Arabia/Africa. The celebration of Three Kings Day (Epiphany or the Twelfth Night/12 Days of Christmas) on January 6th marks the official start of the Mardi Gras Season, Carnival Season, which lasts until Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday).
The two holidays are connected by the tradition of eating king cake, and the period between them is known as "King Cake Season." King cake is a sweet bread or cake with a crown on top that's shared among friends. The cake is decorated in purple, green, and gold, which represent justice, faith, and power. A slice of king cake may contain a coin, bean, or plastic baby that makes the finder "king for the day". In New Orleans, the first parades roll on this day. It marks the start of king cake season, when bakeries across Louisiana sell king cakes. From a religious viewpoint, again, it's a Christian holiday that marks the end of Christmas and the beginning of Carnival season. The tradition of celebrating Three Kings' Day originated in pre-Christian Europe and was brought to New Orleans (America) by French settlers in 1870. The Creoles further refined the ritual. Though this holiday is celebrated in many parts of the world, it holds particular importance in New Orleans, France, Poland, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
