When Jesus was born, the shepherds saw a bright star in the sky.  They weren't the only ones who saw it.  The Bible tells the story of three kings, or Wise Men, who came from the East and followed the star to Bethlehem.  They brought rare and special gifts for Jesus.

According to legend the three kings (sometimes called the Three Magi)  were Melchoir, King of Arabia, who brought gold; Gaspar, King of Tarsus, who brought myrrh; and Balthasar, King of Ethiopia, who brought frankincense. These three names do not come from the Bible and were not part of the story until five hundred years after the birth of Jesus.

The story of the three Wise Men in the Gospel of Matthew says that they went to a house where they saw Jesus as a young child. Other clues have made people think maybe the Wise Men didn't visit Jesus until he was at least a year old.

In many places around the world, the visit of the Wise Men is celebrated on Epiphany, January 6th, (the last of the 12 days of Christmas), and that is when gifts are exchanged.     

How old Jesus was when the Three Kings made their visit, what their names were, or when the visit is celebrated is not as important as what it means.  These wise and powerful men searched out Jesus because they knew he was very special. They gave him gifts fit for a king, and Jesus would give all of us an even greater gift - eternal life!