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The Three Kings

American History Museum

Three Kings Figure
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Object Details

maker

Rivera Group

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 en torno a las historia del 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". En el calendario católico, el día de los Reyes Magos se celebra el 6 de enero, en cuya ocasión los niños de Puerto Rico esperan que los Reyes Magos, 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 al rededor de 1900.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Teodoro Vidal

Date made

late 19th or early 20th century

ID Number

1997.0097.0538

catalog number

1997.0097.0538

accession number

1997.0097

Object Name

santo

Physical Description

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

Measurements

overall: 16 cm x 23 cm x 5.6 cm; 6 5/16 in x 9 1/16 in x 2 3/16 in

Place Made

Puerto Rico: Morovis, Morovis

See more items in

Home and Community Life: Ethnic
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/ng49ca746a4-22ff-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_601927

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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