Three Wise Men Coloring Page
This Three Wise Men coloring page shows the Magi, one young, one middle-aged and one old, kneeling with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh before Mary and the baby Jesus, with the Star of Bethlehem shining above and a camel waiting. The PDF is free to print. Their story is in Matthew 2.
The story of the three wise men
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, some wise men far away in the East saw a new star rising in the sky. They studied the stars, and they knew this one was special. It meant that a great King had been born! So they packed up gifts and set out on a long journey to find him.
They traveled for many days. When they reached Jerusalem, they asked, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star and have come to worship him." King Herod heard this, and he was not happy. He wanted to be the only king. He told the wise men to find the child and come back to tell him.
The wise men went on their way, and the star went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where Jesus was. They were filled with joy! They went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother. They knelt down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
That night God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home a different way.
The Bible does not tell us their names or how many there were. Christians later called them three kings, named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Read more about the Magi, the first people from far-off nations to come and worship Jesus.
What to color
- The star: bright yellow, the star that led them to Jesus.
- The kings' robes: red, purple, green and blue with gold trim, the clothes of rich travelers.
- The crowns: gold. The oldest king has set his crown on the ground to honor a greater King.
- The three gifts: gold coins in a chest, a censer for frankincense, and a jar of myrrh.
- Mary and Jesus: a blue mantle for Mary and white for baby Jesus, with gold halos.
- The camel: tan or light brown, with a colorful blanket.
A prayer to pray together
At the Mass of the Epiphany, the Church thanks God for revealing his Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Children can pray:
Jesus, the wise men followed your star to find you. Help me to follow you too. Holy Magi, pray for us.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on the Epiphany, January 6. In the United States the feast is kept on the Sunday between January 2 and 8.
- Bless your home with chalk: write the year and the letters C+M+B over the door. Our Epiphany house blessing page shows how.
- Bake a king cake, or hide a star in the house for children to find.
- Talk about it: the wise men gave Jesus their best treasures. What gift can you give Jesus this year?
Read the full story: The Magi in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for the three wise men?
Give each king rich colors: red, purple, green and blue robes with gold trim. Make the crowns and gold coins yellow, the star bright yellow, the camel tan and Mary's mantle blue.
What were the gifts of the Magi?
Gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Christians long explained them this way: gold for a king, frankincense, a sweet incense, for God, and myrrh, a burial spice, for the one who would die for us.
Were there really three wise men?
The Gospel does not say how many came or give their names. Because there were three gifts, tradition counted three kings and named them Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.