WTI Magazine #51    2015 January, 9
Author : folclore.it      Translation by:

On January 6, the day of the Epiphany, since 1997 Florence has recovered an ancient tradition to commemorate the visit of the Three Wise Men (in Italian, "I Re Magi") to the infant Jesus. The ride of the Three Wise Men starts in the afternoon from the Pitti Palace, passes through Piazza della Signoria, reaches the Duomo and stops between the Cathedral and the Baptistery, in the space that once upon a time was called "Paradise".

The Three Kings are on horseback, wearing clothes from the Renaissance inspired by the work of Benozzo Gozzoli desired and financed by Cosimo de Medici.

The Medici family had a special veneration for these characters and from them came the desire to recall this beautiful page of the Gospel. The event took place since 1447 every five years; then a solemn procession recalled the day of the appearance of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel to the Three Wise Men: the wise men, aided by an indication of the Star, arrived after a long journey in the small town of Bethlehem, and here made homage to the Child Jesus.

Today, a hundred characters appear before the journey of the Wise Men: horsemen, footmen, flag and banners create an ancient and evocative environment. A swarm of children accompanies the Wise Men, finally in front of the little boy of the nativity scene, for delivery of gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh. In front of the crib a priest read the Gospel of Matthew and the Archbishop comments and greets.