To kick off the fourth season of “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols” we’re embarking on an adventure to learn about an American-born carol that features some classic nativity characters—figures that, though very familiar to us, we know little about. It’s a Christmas song that begins on a plodding, somber note and erupts into a thrilling epiphany. We’re exploring “We Three Kings.”

To help us understand who the magi were—at least from the perspective of Matthew’s Gospel— host Maggi Van Dorn invites Eric Vanden Eykel, author of The Magi: Who They Are, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Ferrum College.

The magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh have long been viewed as symbolic of Jesus’ kingship, divinity and humanity, but how were these two herbs used in antiquity? Maggi learns about their earliest uses from Emiliana Patrick, a fourth year doctoral student in Classical Chinese Medicine at Daoist Traditions College in Asheville, North Carolina.

To trace the star the magi followed, Maggi turns to the director of the Vatican’s observatory, Guy Consolmagno, S.J., a Jesuit brother.  Finally, to better appreciate the musical genius of the carol’s composition, she speaks with ContraForce, a folk metal band known for their eclectic range of musical styles at contra dances, who specially created an instrumental rendition of “We Three Kings,”specially for “Hark!,” that is woven throughout the episode.

The music featured in this episode is courtesy of ContraForce, Michael Logozar, Cynthia Boener, Dante Bucci, the Lee siblings of the Seasons band, Jeff Black and Lotos Nile Music. Special thanks to Jim Bilodeau, our sound engineer, and Jonathan Reid Gealt for lending their vocal talent.

Support Hark! by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine at: americamagazine.org/subscribe

Please donate for Giving Tuesday! From all of us at America Media, thank you!

This season of Hark! is sponsored by Saints for Sinners, offering divine saint medals imported from Italy and meticulously hand-painted in New Orleans.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices