ThreeKings is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language slapstick comedy caper film directed by V. K. Prakash and starring Jayasurya, Kunchacko Boban, and Indrajith Sukumaran in lead roles alongside Samvrutha Sunil, Sandhya, Ann Augustine, Jagathy Sreekumar, Ashokan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Salim Kumar in supporting roles.[1] In the film, three estranged brothers, who are also princes in a royal family, set out on a journey in search of a treasure. However, a mysterious revelation sorts out all the conflict between them.
Shankar (Shankhu), Ram, and Bhaskar are three cousins from a royal family who always fought with each other since childhood. None of them allows others to prosper and creates trouble for each other in whatever they do. Their parents have taken money from a money lender called Dinakaran who has given the money on the lease of the palace. When the debts increase, the three realise that they cannot repay the money and get back to the palace. So they try to steal the papers from Dinakaran's house with the help of his daughters who are their girlfriends. But Dinakaran catches them and hands them over to the police.
In the police lockup, they happen to hear from a blind man that there is a treasure hidden somewhere in the Mysore forest which belonged to their family. He says that this was hidden by Tipu Sultan centuries back. He can help them if they promise to give him a portion of it. But that night, his illness becomes worse and he dies on his way to the hospital, but he hands the three a map of the treasure before he leaves the cell.
The three kings leave for Mysore to find the treasure. Each of them takes a different route and tries to be there first and make the treasure their own, but ultimately they have to join hands because each of them has only one portion of the map which they split while having a fight in the police lockup. Finally, they find the treasure but it turns out that everything was a forged play and they were part of a reality show which a popular channel organized. They all end up humiliated because cameras were following them every moment and caught all their fights on camera and broadcast them.
But during one of the fights they had inside the cave, it turns out that the three kings misplaced the gold idol kept by the channel and took the real golden idol itself. This makes them all rich and they take back the palace from the money lender. The three kings marry their girlfriends and they have three children. In the final scene, it is shown that their three children are fighting each other just as fathers once did, showing that the legacy continues.
"We Three Kings", original title "Three Kings of Orient", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City. It was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America.[1]
John Henry Hopkins Jr. organized the carol in such a way that three male voices would each sing a solo verse in order to correspond with the three kings.[3] The first and last verses of the carol are sung together by all three as "verses of praise", while the intermediate verses are sung individually with each king describing the gift he was bringing.[4] The refrain proceeds to praise the beauty of the Star of Bethlehem.[5] The Magi's solos are typically not observed during contemporary performances of the carol.[3]
The carol's melody has been described as "sad" and "shifting" in nature.[6] Because of this, it highly resembles a song from the Middle Ages and Middle Eastern music, both of which it has been frequently compared to.[6]
At the time he was writing "We Three Kings" in 1857, John Henry Hopkins Jr. was serving as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.[5][10] Although he originally worked as a journalist for a New York newspaper and studied to become a lawyer,[6][11] he chose to join the clergy upon graduating from the University of Vermont.[12] Hopkins studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and after graduating and being ordained a deacon in 1850, he became its first music teacher five years later, holding the post until 1857 alongside his ministry in the Episcopal Church.[9][12]
During his final year of teaching at the seminary,[12] Hopkins wrote "We Three Kings" for a Christmas pageant held at the college.[13] It was noteworthy that Hopkins composed both the lyrics and music; contemporary carol composers usually wrote either the lyrics or music but not both.[10][14] Originally titled "Three Kings of Orient", it was sung within his circle of family and friends. Because of the popularity it achieved among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in 1863 in his book Carols, Hymns, and Songs.[15] It was the first Christmas carol originating from the United States to achieve widespread popularity,[1] as well as the first to be featured in Christmas Carols Old and New,[clarification needed] a collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom.[14] In 1916, the carol was printed in the hymnal for the Episcopal Church; that year's edition was the first to have a separate section for Christmas songs.[6] "We Three Kings" was also included in The Oxford Book of Carols published in 1928, which praised the song as "one of the most successful of modern composed carols".[8]
Since the 1950s, the carol has been frequently parodied by children. The subject of the lyrics vary widely depending upon the region, with references to smoking explosive rubber cigars, selling counterfeit lingerie, or travelling to an Irish bar by taxi, car, and scooter.[21][22][23]
Three Kings Day, also recognized as the celebration of Epiphany, transcends borders to explore diverse celebrations deeply rooted in history and culture. In this comprehensive guide, we'll uncover some of the origins, distinctive traditions, and lively festivities that characterize Three Kings Day across Latin America and Europe.
Beyond its religious origins, Three Kings Day is an exciting cultural celebration that blends the reverence of honoring the Christ child and the joy of the first Christmas. People unite to honor the wise men, also known as magi, and their journey. Families will engage in various customs that make this day truly unique, such as exchanging gifts and savoring special foods.
This celebration intertwines religious customs of the Biblical Christmas story with festive traditions, creating a meaningful occasion for families and friends. In essence, Three Kings Day transcends borders and enriches communities worldwide.
While some may bid farewell to the Christmas season at the end of Christmas on December 25, for others, it continues for an additional 11 days. This is contrary to the conventional understanding of the "12 Days of Christmas" song where there are 12 days leading up to Christmas. Instead, 12 days are counted, starting on Christmas Day and culminating on January 6, which is better known as Three Kings Day or Epiphany.
Epiphany is observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Christians of other Western traditions. Western traditions celebrate Epiphany on January 6 and focus on the magi's visit to the baby Jesus, which is seen as the first manifestation of Christ as the Savior of both Gentiles and Jews.
Baptism is common during Epiphany, and houses may be blessed with holy water. Orthodox Christians participate in a church ceremony during Theophany where a priest consecrates water and blesses the congregation.
In Latin America, Three Kings Day (Da de Reyes) is a kaleidoscope of colors, music, and flavors. Each country has its own cultural traditions and festivities to celebrate the day with family and friends.
In Mexico, the celebration of Three Kings Day is marked by delightful traditions that add joy and meaning to the occasion. On January 5, children across the country eagerly leave out their shoes, anticipating the arrival of goodies and small gifts left by the three wise men.
As part of the Three Kings Day Mexico tradition, families gather to share the rosca de reyes, a sweet bread with hidden figurines inside. It is believed that whoever finds the figurine is bestowed with good luck!
It is also tradition that whoever discovers the baby figurine must extend an invitation to those present for a meal of tamales on February 2, known as Candlemas Day. This day holds significance as it celebrates the Virgin Mary.
Three Kings Day in Mexican communities also features lively street performances featuring traditional dances and music. Special meals, including the beloved tamales and hot chocolate, become a cherished part of the celebration, bringing families together to enjoy the richness of their cultural traditions.
Leading up to the eve of January 5, children in Puerto Rico eagerly prepare for the arrival of the magi by filling boxes with grass or hay to offer to the camels and horses that the magi ride. They then place the box under their beds, a thoughtful gesture intended to prompt the magi to leave generous presents.
The importance of Los Reyes also holds a significant place in Puerto Rican art. Local artisans craft tallados (carvings) from wood and create ceramic representations of the three kings, portraying the magi as they are uniquely envisioned in Puerto Rican culture.
Puerto Rico even has a dedicated museum to the three kings: the Museo de los Tres Santos Reyes. This museum stands as a testament to the cultural significance of these revered figures and the holiday.
Friends and families come together for parrandas, which are lively gatherings involving singing and playing traditional Puerto Rican music as they move through the neighborhood. The festivities include stops at neighboring homes for shared celebrations, food, snacks, and sips of coquito, a coconut-based holiday drink infused with rum.
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