The Three Kings arrived in Malta this morning from Revine Lago in Northern Italy, and the first stop on their journey to Gozo was a visit to the Mater Dei Hospital, where they visited the Children's Ward and the Elderly Ward.

The young children were encouraged to write a letter or prayer to be given to the Three Kings so that they will present it to baby Jesus during the Triumphal Entrance at Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem on Sunday.

The Three Kings, also known as the Magi, are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of Christian tradition.

The journey for the Three Kings will then continue on Sunday, the 3rd, when the will depart on horseback from Manikata area in Mellieha around 9.30am in the morning. They will visit the elderly home 'Dar il-Madonna' around 10am and at 11am Herod will ask the Three Wise Men to depart to find Jesus and tell him where he was during a reenactment in the main square.

The Magi will take the 2.15pm ferry and make the triumphal entrance into the Nativity Village at around 3.30pm where they will present their gifts to Baby Jesus – The traditional Adoration of the Magi, which will close the seventh edition of the Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem Nativity Village.

The organisers of Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem said that last weekend, more than 21,000 people visited the Nativity Village, a new record.

The pageant seeks to replicate, in a live manner, the atmosphere and environs of Bethlehem at the time when Jesus Christ was born over 2000 years ago.

New attractions for this years included a new local crafts area with a section dedicated to mosaic, a new looks for the fisherman's port and a 100 feet suspended rope bridge which the visitors can cross to take a trip along the river on a Maltese boat.

Other traditional attractions include the bakery, the blacksmith, carpenter, the wine tavern, open air market and the Inn.

Each dwelling is inhabited and animated by whole families, to remind everyone that Christmas is a celebration of the family. The tavern offers local food and wine.

A picnic area offers the unique surroundings for a family outing, while oil lamps will be distributed for those who want to visit Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem by night. Fresh water will be flowing along these structures through a small stream with various water features.

The main attraction is certainly the grotto, with the Baby Jesus in the caring hands of Mary assisted by Joseph with a donkey and a cow close by.

Permalink: The Magi arrival in Malta & visit children at Mater Dei Hospital