You have followed a new star in the sky, and it led you to this small town and to this child. Your costumes are regal – by far the most elaborate that anyone has seen. There is no mention of the wise men’s homeland, but it would have likely been a desert land because they rode camels.
Likely questions:
• What are your names? (These aren’t mentioned so feel free to choose something interesting) Gaspar, Melchior, and Baltasar
• Did you ride camels? (The answer is “Yes” but we won’t have a camel this year. So, maybe the answer is that they are in a stable being fed)
• What gifts did you bring? Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.
Frankincense is a resinous gum made from the sap of various trees. When burned as incense, it emits an earthy fragrance that lasts for hours. It was a symbol of deity and divine nature, and very costly.
Note: The frankincense and myrrh have been swallowed by guests; in small quantities it is non-toxic, but please discourage it if our guests are curious. Myrrh is an aromatic resin made from several plants. The oil was used for anointing and embalming; it was a lavish gift in this era.