The 3 Magi are celebrated in Alsace, perhaps more than in the rest of France. Though…
In Alsatian, d’r Drei-Kenigs-Dàà, literally the day of the 3 kings, the Epiphany, is an important date because Gaspard, Melchior and Balthazar are very popular saints, protectors of the people, and especially because they recognize Jesus as the new Messiah, after having followed the famous Star. After a few twists and turns, their adventures took them to Alsace. It is said that they passed through Ràbbschwihr, Ribeauvillé. A potter named Kügel would have been the only one to offer them hospitality. To thank him, the three wise men made a special cake, molded on the hat of one of them: it was the 1st Köijlhopf. Finally the Köilhopf, nùndedié! Finally, the kou-gel-hopf if you say it the French way, we are not going to draw you a drawing, take a slice there!
Tradition has it that the Three Kings are buried in Köln, Cologne, Germany, but they are on the move on January 6. Each year, they go up the course of the Rhine, cross Strasbourg, pass by the Kronthal, and from there, go to the Champ du Feu. All night long, they purify the air infested with evil spirits and wizards. He who bears gold sows it like wheat; the one who carries the incense burns it in the palm of his hand and the scent lasts a whole year; he who bears myrrh spreads it in the grass. Then, the spirits flee and the Three Kings, their mission accomplished, return to Cologne until the following year. It’s all clean now.
– Amoli – Wikimedia Commons
This is the real start of the new year, after the Little Year, today is January 6.