On the 6th of January each year in Luxembourg we celebrate “Dräikinneksdag” (loosely translated into: 3 Kings-day)
The 6th of January the Christians all around the world celebrate “Epiphany” meaning the Vision of God and the revelation of God’s son as a human being and the visit of the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings) from the East bringing myrrh, gold and frankincense when visiting Jesus after his birth.
In Luxembourg you will see these days in the bakeries some cakes made of puff cake and almonds with a crown on top. These cakes are our traditional “Dräikinnekskuch” or “Galettes des Rois”, which you will share with your family. Inside the frangipane filling a bean is hidden and he/she who bites on the bean will be the king of the family for a day and can wear the crown. Luxembourg shares this tradition with France.
In Spain for instance the children don’t get their gifts from “St. Nicolas” on 6th December but by the Three Kings on 6th January.
In Germany the children are dressed up as kings, the so called “Sternensinger” (star singers), and they go from house to house collected money for Christian charities. For those who give money, the children will write with chalk C+M+B+2016* (always the current year) over the door, which is supposed to bless the house.
* Christus mansionem benedicat (Christ bless this house) - for others it’s just the 3 first letters of the Kings, “Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar”.
Enjoy the Dräikinnekskuch and hopefully you’ll be crowned King for a day!
