2. What is new year? New Year's Day is the first day of the new year. It is celebrated as a holiday in almost every country in the world. It is a time of fun, sharing with friends, remembering the past, and hoping for good things in the future.

3. What happened on the 6 th January? What is this special day called? The Epiphany

5. What gifts did they bring?

6. The story starts with the wise men in their own countries. They knew of what the prophets had said would happen in the future. They new that at some point a child would be born who would become the king of the Jews.

7. One day, whilst observing the skies, they notice a star that they haven't seen before. They take this as a sign that the new baby king has been born. They all decide to follow this star which they believe will take them to where the new king has been born. Oh look. It’s a new star. It must be a sign. Lets follow it!

8. The three wise men arrived in Jerusalem. They asked “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him”. This troubled one very important person – the king at that time, KING HEROD. He asked the secretly meet the three wise men. Go and seek for this child. When you have found him, come back and tell me so that I may go and worship him also.

9. The three wise men left and continued to follow the star, going East. It eventually stopped over the place where Jesus had been born. Wow, look at that! This must be the place we have travelled far to get to. Lets go and see the baby King and give him the gifts that we have for him.

10. They arrived at the place where Jesus was with his parents. They fell down on their knees to worship him and gave him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Please, take these gifts that we have bought for the baby.

11. This is a precious metal. This was given to Jesus to show that Jesus was a King. This is a perfumed gum burned in temples. This was given to honour Jesus as God. This is a substance used as a holy ingredient in funeral preparations. This was given to show that Jesus was a man who would eventually die.

12. People resolve to make themselves better in the New Year. It is still custom today to make a list of resolutions. Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?

13. Could we offer these resolutions as our gifts to Jesus? Here are some of my ideas.....

14. © Flickr/dotbenjamin

15. © Flickr/dok1

17. © Flickr/purplemattfish

18. © Flickr/hoangnam_nguyen

19. © Flickr/Maldita la hora

20. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Our hearts!!!!

21. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Spread kindness around our school.

22. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Show respect to EVERYONE!

23. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Forgive the mistakes of others.

24. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Don’t let your love for everybody fade away.

25. What gift will you offer Jesus this new year? Show reverence, when saying your prayers.

26. Let us pray... Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us the gift of this new year. Please guide us through it, helping us to show love, kindness and forgiveness.