The Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated in many countries, and on this lovely holiday children expect gifts from the Magi or Three Kings as they gave gifts to the Christ Child many years ago in Bethlehem. Here in Prague they celebrate with a procession around the city where the Three Kings riding their camels come bearing gifts. The procession itself will be preceded by a traditional blessing of the Three Kings carolers , which will be given by the Archbishop of Prague in the church of St. Tomáš on Friday, January 6 at 3 p.m. The three kings will also be present, who will then start a parade through the center of Prague from the nearby Malostranské náměstí.
The procession will end at the stage in the Old Town Square, where the three kings present their gifts to the baby Jesus in the nativity scene. From 5 p.m. , visitors can listen to the Czech Christmas Mass Hail Master Jakub Jan Ryba performed by the St. James Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Jan Rezek, with soloists from the National Theatre.
Another interesting tradition to look for in the Czech Republic and other parts of Europe on this day is the blessing of houses by the Three Kings who write in chalk on top of the threshholds K+M+B which seems to be the initials of the Three Kings Casper, Melchior and Balthasar but is actually the initials of a translation from Latin meaning “Christ Bless this House.” Go ahead and look at the top of the front doors anywhere in the Czech Republic after Three Kings Day!
