Lore is updated (with location permission please)
Ah, January 6th. That magical date on which millions of petty domestic tyrants in Mexico display unwavering faith in three bearded gentlemen who travel by camel and, apparently, have a logistical capacity that would make Amazon pale. We celebrate Three Wise Men’s Day, a celebration where, with a mixture of Christian devotion and pure consumerism, it is commemorated that Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar arrived in Bethlehem with gifts. Of course, today the “Child God” has been replaced by the child who shouted the letter the loudest and whose greatest act of faith was to behave “well” for 48 hours straight in December.
Over the centuries, this tradition has demonstrated enviable resilience, surviving everything from the Reformation to the “Furby.” It has become so deeply ingrained in popular customs that it is now an event that combines authentic childhood excitement with last-minute shopping mall parental desperation. The early morning of January 6 is officially the longest night for any parent who has forgotten to buy the latest hot toy or is trying to assemble a bicycle with an instruction manual written in an alien language.
From frankincense and myrrh to JavaScript and the geolocation API
But here is that tradition has decided that it has had enough of stardust and blind faith. In the digital age, even eastern monarchs must undergo digitalization. The sublime website “Locate the Three Wise Men” enters the scene. Worried that Their Majesties have gotten lost taking a shortcut along the Silk Road? Anxious because you don’t know if they have already visited your neighborhood? Don’t be afraid. Now you can spy on every movement of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar through an interactive map that is activated punctually on the big day.
Before the date, the platform is nothing more than a cruel reminder of the wait, displaying a countdown that says things like “2 nights until the Three Kings come.” A true chair of patience and, incidentally, of digital marketing. On D-Day, the map comes to life, showing the real-time location of this delivery trio. Because nothing says “mystery and magic” like a luminous point traveling around the globe at a speed that defies the laws of physics and common sense.
Of course, the developers, in a burst of responsibility that is as unusual as it is praiseworthy, suggest that adults supervise children. It’s not going to be that, by giving location permissions to the page (only “while in use”, what a detail), the little one ends up also tracking Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, creating a complete database of magical beings for unknown purposes. By exploring the map, one can also see the points of origin of each king, allowing us to mentally calculate the expenditure on camel fuel and appreciate the epic (and absurd) magnitude of their transcontinental journey.
The platform, for those curious about the technology behind illusionism, is based on Leaflet, a JavaScript library. That is to say, the same magic that apps use to order food at home is now used to follow the oldest gift delivery in the world. It is supported by Stadia Maps, OpenMap Tiles, OpenStreetMap and Stamen Design maps. In short: a collaborative open source and design effort to answer the age-old question: “And where the hell are the Kings?”.
So now you know. This Three Kings’ Day, in addition to leaving your shoes, grass and water for the camels, make sure you have a good WiFi signal. Faith moves mountains, but a good interactive map tells you exactly which mountain they are coming from right now. A modern lesson: Even the most sacred rituals can, and should, have an “Update Location” button.
Ready to become the official air traffic controller of Christmas magic? Share this modern gem with other parents in trouble or curious about traditions on your social networks. And if you’re left wanting more absurd mixes between old and digital, explore our site to discover how other holidays have succumbed (gloriously) to the technological age.
