The Christmas Gifts - Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh

The Gifts of the Magi

Why would anyone bring a gift such as Myrrh to a brand new baby? Or Frankincense...what about that? I mean, the gold makes sense. A family can build a future for a child with a foundation of gold.
In my recent quest through the aromatics and oils of the ancient world, I have found that some of the most commonly used were what I call the "Christmas Gift" fragrances. According to the Bible, Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold were all gifts given, by the three wisemen or kings , Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, to the Christ child upon his birth.
But, what was the reason? Why those particular gifts? WHy not a blanket or a swaddling cloth or even a toy? Some say those were standard gifts for a king in the ancient world. The wisemen knew of this child's heritage and quite possibly his destiny. They say they were chosen for their spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself. Gold represents his kingship. While Frankincense, a symbol of his divinity, instills courage, helps the mind focus and lifts the spirit. And Myrrh alleviates suffering. It clears the air, is used in divination, regenerates the spirit and restores clarity. They knew these gifts would be a huge help to Jesus on his destined path...very interesting...
In terms of monetary value, the Frankincense and Myrrh were more valuable than the Gold! In fact, some New Testament scholars even speculate that the gold part of the gift the three wisemen delivered wasn't gold at all, but the gold-colored ambergris.
As a lovely side note, you may be interested to know that ambergris is whale poo (or vomit, depending on who you're talking to). It is produced in the intestines of sperm whales to protect its gut from the very sharp beaks of squid that it feeds on in the deep ocean. After the whale poops it out, it floats around in the ocean for years, exposed to the salt, sun and sea air, turning it into a  hard gray mass. It bobs along in the water until fishermen or whalers grab it from the ocean or it washes ashore to be found by one very lucky person. They are highly valued and worth a lot of money.

Ambergris

They are also known as "floating gold".
The actual therapeutic value is said to be that it was useful against digestive and intestinal trouble. Whether you suffered from constipation or diarrhea, ambergris was your friend!
But, getting back to the aromatic side of ambergris, it was highly prized for its distinct sweet, musky scent said to be similar to tobacco or evergreen.
In 14th century Europe, ambergris was said to be a way to avoid the Black Death, People stuffed their pockets with it, wore it around their necks and even smeared it inside of masks. Unfortunately, the only thing coming out of that theory was hiding the smell of the corpses.
On a happier note, a drop of ambergris added to tinctures, salves and balms was said to relieve those problems of a romantic nature. Somewhat of a modern-day Viagra?! In the 18th century, men with erectile disfunction would use ambergris cream.
And returning to our aromatherapy roots, throughout the centuries, women rubbed it in their hair (and supposedly on their bodies) as an aphrodisiac, attempting to seduce through its aroma.
Why wisemen would include that in a gift box for an infant, I don't know... on second thought, maybe it really was straight-up gold.