I'm Dreaming Of A Wide Christmas

A Frank Incense Interpretation Of An Ancient Tale

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Today I thought I’d try and find three unusual, out-of-the-ordinary objects to depict the gold, frankincense and myrrh that were presented to the infant Jesus by the three wise men.

The first shot (above) is a decorative, gold-painted flange on the ticket booth of an open-air carousel in Southbank, Melbourne, but the other two were always going to be harder to track down.

This small hand-crafted container (below) was given to us by a very close friend some years ago. I thought it would easily represent something in which the Magi might have presented frankincense after carrying it on their long journey.


Finally, I mulled over several options for myrrh before settling on this final set of trinkets (below) that are so distinctive because of the multi-coloured stones that give it such an ancient appearance.

And this would be the most suitable place to confess that I must have had a wacky sense of humour even when I was in primary school. I still vividly remember a Christmas card that was sent to me specifically, instead of being addressed to the whole family as usual.

It showed the three wise men bowing reverently in front of the crib. Two wise men are looking in horror at their companion and shaking their heads, saying, "No, no, we said frankincense".

The third wise man has a rope tethered to Frankenstein.


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