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Los Tres Reyes Magos

American History Museum

Three Kings Figure
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  • Three Kings Figure

    Object Details

    Description

    Among the most famous characters in the stories about the birth of Jesus are the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men, or Magi. The Bible doesn't specify their names or nationalities, only that they were guided by the star of Bethlehem to bring three gifts to honor the birth of Christ, the "King of the Jews." On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this day, Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. This set is from the town of Morovis, probably crafted by a member of the Rivera family around 1900.

    Description (Spanish)

    Entre los personajes más famosos de la historia en torno al nacimiento de Jesús se cuentan los Reyes Magos. La Biblia no especifica sus nombres o sus países de origen, solamente dice que los guió la estrella de Belén para llevar tres obsequios en honor al nacimiento de Cristo, el "Rey de los Judíos". Según el calendario católico, el día de los Reyes Magos se celebra el 6 de enero, en cuya oportunidad los niños de Puerto Rico esperan que los Reyes Magos, y no Santa Claus, les traigan sus regalos de Navidad. Este conjunto de Reyes Magos proviene del pueblo de Morovis y probablemente su artesano haya sido un miembro de la familia Rivera.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Teodoro Vidal

    Date made

    early 20th century

    ID Number

    1997.0097.0511.001

    catalog number

    1997.0097.0511.001

    accession number

    1997.0097

    Object Name

    santos

    Physical Description

    wood; paint; metal (overall material)
    handmade (overall production method/technique)
    wood (overall material)
    paint (overall material)
    metal (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 31 cm x 10.4 cm x 21.1 cm; 12 7/32 in x 4 3/32 in x 8 5/16 in

    Place Made

    Puerto Rico

    See more items in

    Home and Community Life: Religion
    Cultures & Communities
    Religion
    Vidal

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    depicted

    Three Kings

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-333e-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_601900

    Discover More

     Pair of brown maracas made from the calabash plant. "Puerto Rico" is carved into the bodies of the maracas, and their handles are wooden.

    Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History

     Pair of brown maracas made from the calabash plant. "Puerto Rico" is carved into the bodies of the maracas, and their handles are wooden.

    Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History

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