You've heard of the "12 Days of Christmas," right? What I didn't realize for a long time was that these were the 12 days after Christmas that lead to Epiphany (January 6). Epiphany, which means "appearance" or "manifestation," is the day honoring the arrival of the Magi (a.k.a. "Wise Men"). Since these men were not Jews, this is traditionally considered to be the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
My children have a sturdy wooden Nativity ("birth") set that allows them to become part of the Christmas story through play (see Matthew 2 and Luke 2). At first, we leave out baby Jesus and the Magi. This invites questions, increases anticipation, and gives more meaning to the Advent season (the 4 weeks before Christmas).
On Christmas Day, baby Jesus arrives, and the Magi begin their journey. For 12 days, they wander around the house looking for Jesus, getting closer and closer to the Nativity scene. (My husband or I move the Magi to a new location each day, and the kids enjoy looking for them.) Finally, on Epiphany, the Magi find Jesus and worship Him.
