Biblical Magi their authenticity. In the Eastern churches, Ethiopian Christianity, for instance, has "Hor", "Karsudan", and "Basanater", while the Armenian Catholics have "Kagpha", "Badadakharida" and "Badadilma". Many Chinese Christians believe that one of the magi came from China. The phrase "from the east" (ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν), more literally "from the rising [of the sun]", is the only information Matthew provides about the region from which they came. The Parthian Empire, centered in Persia, occupied virtually all of the land east of Judea and Syria (except for the deserts of Arabia to the southeast). Though the empire was tolerant of other religions, its dominant
Little Christmas the wise men (or Magi) brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Tradition names them Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. The custom of blessing homes on Epiphany developed because the feast commemorates the time that the three kings visited the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day (December 25) and end on January 5, eve of the traditional date of the Epiphany. In other parts of the world, it is sometimes referred to as "Old Christmas" or "Old Christmas Day", so called for the same reasons as in Ireland.