Christmas Postcards

In Spain, Santa Claus is a relatively new tradition, consequence of all the marketings campaigns that use the figure of Saint Nicholas to profit. But before Santa Claus, in Spain we had the Three Wise Men. These are the kings depicted in the Bible that are said to have gone to worship the Child Jesus after He was born. And although the Bible doesn't say how many of them actually were, they're are portrait as three as symbol of the three continents that were known when the tradition started: Europe, portrait by Melchior; Asia, by Caspar; and Africa, by Balthazar.

In the Spanish tradition it is said that the Wise Kings visit every house the night of the 5th of January, giving everyone presents, just as they did with the Child Jesus.