Three Kings' Parade celebrates the Epiphany (Video)

Just before a light dusting of snow blanketed the area, Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar — along with their three camels — made their way through Montclair for Immaculate Conception Church’s Kings Parade. The annual parade, which featured live camels, celebrated Three Kings Day on Saturday, Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Hundreds of the faithful gathered in Montclair to follow the three kings down Church Street. It was the second Three Kings Day live celebration for the church.

*The event featured three camels. (Julio Eduardo Herrera)*

Father Amilcar Benito Prado, the parish’s pastor, said celebrating Kings Day is a big tradition for the Hispanic and Latino Catholic communities. As a child growing up in Nicaragua, Father Prado celebrated Three Kings Day every year.

The Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of Christmas. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Epiphany celebrates the revelation to the Three Wise Men that Jesus was the Son of God. As told only in the Gospel of Matthew, they follow a star to search out and honor the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

For many communities, gifts are exchanged on Jan. 6 because that is when the kings brought the gifts to our Lord. The gifts hold special meanings. Gold is traditionally attributed to Jesus because He is king. Frankincense is attributed to the Lord Jesus because He is God. And myrrh, which is often used for anointing the dead, is given to Jesus in honor of His being a man.

Immaculate Conception’s Three Kings Day celebration was the brainchild of Montclair resident Obie Miranda-Woodley, who grew up in Puerto Rico, where Kings Day is a common celebration.

Martin Studzinski — who attended the event — said although it marks the end of Christmas, it is an invitation for us to go and spend time with Jesus, “who is the source of love.”

*Hundreds came out to meet the Three Kings. (Julio Eduardo Herrera)*

“We hope to continue the tradition for generations to come, especially for the kids who need to know about our faith and what this season represents,” said Father Prado.

A blessing of the home is another tradition on the Feast of the Epiphany. The practice of home blessings is attributed to the magi visiting the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Many today ask for God’s intercession by writing a blessing — 20+C+M+B+24 — with chalk over their doors. The “20” and the “24” stand for the year, and the letters are for the three wise men — Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. Some churches gave out chalk that had been blessed on Sunday so that parishioners could mark their doors.

Most Catholics also do not take down their Christmas tree or creche until after the Epiphany, the official end of Christmas.

The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” The Epiphany actually includes celebrations of two other events in addition to the wise men’s arrival that reveal who Jesus really was: the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana.