Christmas season traditionally ends on this day, Jan 6 here in the Philippines. We called it "Tatlong Hari", in English as "Three Kings" or Epiphany Day. Also known as El Dia de Los Reyes (Feliz Dia de Los Reyes!), a holy day for Eastern Christian and Western Christian churches.
The 3 Kings were known as Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the new baby born Jesus.
Gold was the gift given by Melchior, a king of Arabia. He is said to have been the oldest of the Three Kings. The spiritual meaning of gold is as a symbol of kingship on earth or symbolizing virtue.Frankincense was the gift given by Balthazar, a king from Saba - present day southern Yemen. Frankincense is resin from the dried sap of the Boswellia tree – a tree that has grown on the craggy slopes of the Arabian Sea for thousand of years.
Frankincense (an incense) was given as a symbol of priestship, or prayer.
In ancient times, Frankincense and Gold were equally valuable.
Myrrh- The gift given by Gaspar, a king from Tarsus – present day Southern Turkey. Myrrh is resin from the Commiphora tree and is harvested by cutting slits in the bark of the tree from which Myrrh resin hardens into dark red crystals.
Myrrh (an embalming oil) symbolizing suffering or death.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-12&version=NIV
Filipino children leave their shoes out, so that the Kings would leave behind gifts like candy or money inside.
But most people on this day just simply greet one another with the phrase
"Happy Three Kings!"
In some places, there is the practice of having three men, dressed as the Tatlong Hari, riding around on horseback and distributes candy to the children.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_%28holiday%29
