Three Kings’ Day, celebrated this Tuesday (Jan. 6), marks a centuries-old tradition in Brazilian popular culture – the passage of revelers through the streets, bringing together groups of singers and musicians chanting lines in honor of the three wise men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar. Portuguese in its origin, the Folia de Reis, or Reisado, was brought to Brazil during the colonial period.

In various cities across the country, they go from house to house wearing costumes and masks and performing dances and songs with multiple string instruments, accordions, and percussion. Some groups have characters – kings, clowns, and bastions – who visit the homes of the faithful.

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Converted into saints by the Catholic Church, Belchior, Caspar, and Baltazar are said to have left the East guided by a star and carrying three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh – symbolizing royalty, immortality, and spirituality. For devotees, the date of the arrival of the three wise men at their destination marks the end of the Christmas celebrations, which begin four Sundays before December 25, the day attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Thus, January 6 marks the moment when the three wise men visit the newborn Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, an ancient city currently located in Palestine. On this day, nativity scenes, trees, and other Christmas decorations are also taken down.

The board of directors of Brazil’s lower house has officially announced its decision to expel Federal Representatives Eduardo Bolsonaro and Alexandre Ramagem – both members of the Liberal Party (PL).

Eduardo Bolsonaro

The board decided to strip Eduardo Bolsonaro of his seat for excessive absences. He failed to attend a third of the deliberative sessions of the house, which resulted in punishment under the Constitution.

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In March, Eduardo Bolsonaro fled to the US and requested leave from office. It ended on July 21, but he did not return to Brazil and had already racked up a significant number of unexcused absences from plenary sessions.

Eduardo Bolsonaro is also facing trial before the Supreme Court for attempting to have sanctions brought against Brazil to protect his father Jair Bolsonaro from prosecution for his role in a coup plot.

Ramagem

In Ramagem’s case, the removal was ordered after the Supreme Court ruled that he had lost his seat in the trial for the attempted coup. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison.

A former director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) during Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, Ramagem is currently a fugitive in Miami, Florida. Since September, he had been presenting medical certificates to justify his absence from the house.

After discovering his escape, the lower house reported it had not been informed of his departure nor had it authorized him to go on any official mission abroad.