The reason frankincense and myrrh fell out of fashion as gifts outside religious contexts lies mainly in their strong symbolic and ritualistic associations, geographic specificity, and evolving cultural practices over centuries. These substances were prized in ancient times for religious ceremonies and royal offerings, but their meanings and uses have narrowed significantly, making them uncommon in secular gift-giving today.
Frankincense and myrrh are aromatic resins originating from Arabia. Historically, they featured prominently in religious rituals, symbolizing prayer and purification. Myrrh also carried connotations of suffering and death. Their importance in religious texts and ceremonies created a primary context that rarely translated into everyday gift exchanges.
The biblical account of the three wise men presents these gifts with symbolic meaning. The givers—Magi—brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, ideas drawn from ancient royal and spiritual traditions. Gold symbolized kingship. Frankincense represented priestly devotion or divine presence. Myrrh foretold suffering and death, a foreshadowing of Jesus’s fate in Christian theology.
These gifts connected to specific geographic and cultural milieus. Frankincense and myrrh came from Arabia, while the Magi themselves, historically linked to the Persian Zoroastrian priestly caste, represented exotic wisdom from the East. This exoticism and ritual link confined these substances to ceremonial or symbolic use rather than popular or practical gifting.
Over time, the context for giving frankincense and myrrh shifted. Their scarcity, complex symbolism, and ritual use restricted them largely to religious or symbolic contexts. Unlike gold, which retained currency as a valuable and universally desired gift, frankincense and myrrh did not maintain broad cultural appeal.
Also, linguistic nuances might have affected perceptions of the gifts. Some scholars propose that the reference to gold and incense could be a mistranslation or a blend of meanings in ancient languages. This ambiguity may have obscured broader cultural practices surrounding their use outside religious ceremonies.
Practically, the decline of frankincense and myrrh as common gifts followed broader cultural changes. As societies evolved, gift-giving trends reflect shifting values and accessibility. The expensive, rare nature of these resins, coupled with their religious overtones, curbed their role in secular gift-giving.
- Frankincense and myrrh’s association with religious rituals made them less appropriate as secular gifts.
- Their symbolism of death, suffering, or prayer limited wide cultural adoption beyond sacred contexts.
- Geographic and historic specificity situated these resins within narrow cultural traditions.
- Over centuries, changing social norms and gift-giving habits diminished their secular appeal.
Today, frankincense and myrrh appear mostly within religious practices or specialty markets. They rarely appear as standard presents outside faith-based or historical interest circles. The long-standing traditions and symbolic weight attached to these gifts make them more meaningful in liturgical contexts than in mainstream secular life.
| Factor | Effect on Gift Use |
|---|---|
| Religious symbolism | Confined use to rituals, reduced secular gifting |
| Geographic origin (Arabia) | Limited availability and cultural reach |
| Symbolism of death and prayer | Increased sacred meaning, decreased casual appeal |
| Cultural changes | Shifted gift preferences to more accessible or valuable items |
The biblical narrative itself, created for theological and symbolic purposes, likely influenced how frankincense and myrrh were understood and valued. The specific inclusion of these gifts reflects theological messaging more than a historical account of gift customs.
The potential mistranslation linking incense and gold suggests some fluidity in ancient sources, complicating our modern understanding. This linguistic ambiguity might have contributed to the unclear role of these gifts outside religious symbolism.
In summary, frankincense and myrrh ceased to be common secular gifts due to several intertwined factors. Their sacred symbolism, rarity, geographic confines, and changing cultural gift practices all contributed. Today, their primary association with religious tradition keeps them common only in liturgical or symbolic contexts rather than general gifting.
- Frankincense and myrrh’s original sacred and exotic significance limits secular use.
- Changing cultural practices reduced their role as everyday presents.
- They remain largely specialized items tied to religious rituals.
- Gold’s universal value preserved its place as a common gift, unlike the resins.
Why Frankincense and Myrrh Are Rarely Gifts Today: The Biblical Origins and Curious Fall from Fashion
The bible famously mentions the three wise men giving baby Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to Jesus. But today, it’s very unlikely to get frankincense and myrrh as gifts outside of religious contexts. Why did they fall out of fashion and when? Let’s unravel this ancient mystery.
The Nativity narrative is charming but not exactly a historical documentary. Scholars generally see it as a carefully constructed story meant to highlight Jesus’ significance, not a strict record of actual events. The gifts from the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—hold symbolic weight rather than just monetary or practical value.
A Quick Dive into the Symbolism of the Gifts
Frankincense and myrrh aren’t just random exotic gifts. Both are aromatic resins originating mainly from Arabian regions. These were precious commodities in biblical times, linked to trade routes through Midian and Sheba (ancient Arabia). The Book of Isaiah (60:6) actually references gold and frankincense flowing from these places.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh together symbolize *royalty*, *divinity*, and *mortality*: gold for kingship, frankincense for priestly worship (think incense wafting over altars), and myrrh often connected to embalming and death.
“Let us consider the incredible sign that occurs in the eastern climes… the Phoenix makes a tomb for itself out of frankincense, myrrh, and other spices…”
—First Clement (ancient Christian text)
This poetic metaphor associates these substances with death and rebirth, echoing deeper religious themes rather than mere gift-giving etiquette. Over centuries, interpretations deepened: myrrh came to stand firmly as a symbol of suffering and death, while incense (frankincense) came to represent prayer and divine connection.
Who Were the Magi—and Does It Matter?
The famous “wise men” or Magi are likely less historical figures and more symbolic characters. Originally, Magoi referred to Zoroastrian priests from what is now Iran. By the 1st century, the term was ambiguous, referring to exotic magicians or astrologers in the Mediterranean world.
Curiously, early Christian interpreters argued about the Magi’s origins—whether Arabian (matching the frankincense and myrrh) or Iranian (matching the Magoi tradition). This ambiguity suggests the Gospel of Matthew’s scene aimed for symbolic resonance, not a travelogue.
Gold’s Odd One Out Status and a Linguistic Twist
Gold appears somewhat out-of-place compared to the aromatic resins. Experts like Raymond Brown suggest a fascinating possibility: a mistranslation. The Hebrew word zahav (“gold”) derives from a root that also meant a type of aromatic substance in South Arabian languages. A word like ḍahab might have ambiguously meant “both gold and incense.”
If so, the gift list might originally have been about aromatic resins only, making gold a later addition due to translation quirks. That could explain why gold feels like the odd one out despite its obvious value.
Why Have Frankincense and Myrrh Fallen Out of Fashion?
Here’s where things get contemporary. These resins were once luxury trade items prized in religious and royal rites. But over centuries, their practical uses and cultural significance shifted dramatically.
Firstly, frankincense and myrrh were integral to ancient religious rituals, medical remedies, and perfumery, but their production was geographically limited and labor-intensive. As trade routes evolved and cheaper or synthetic alternatives emerged, the costly natural resins gradually lost their economic importance.
In modern times, frankincense and myrrh became niche—mostly tied to Christian liturgical uses, incense for prayer or meditation, and traditional medicine in some cultures. Outside these contexts, they lost their cachet as prestigious gifts. Few people today associate them with status or luxury, unlike gold or diamond jewelry.
Also, global commercialization favors sleek, standardized gifts—perfumes, jewelry, electronics—that appeal more broadly than sticky fragrant resins shipped from remote Arabian deserts. For urban gift-givers, frankincense and myrrh might feel quirky or esoteric, even obsolete.
When Exactly Did This Fashion Change Happen?
The decline is a slow, gradual slide rather than a sudden drop. By late antiquity (circa 3rd–5th centuries CE), interpretations of myrrh as a symbol of suffering and frankincense as prayer tokens were already established. Trade in these resins continued but shifted towards more religious uses.
By the Middle Ages, frankincense and myrrh were mostly markers of faith-related ceremonies, not common luxury gifts. Their use narrowed even further after the Renaissance, when European economic and cultural centers focused on metals, precious stones, and fine fabrics as status symbols.
Today, outside religious rituals on Christmas or in some aromatherapy circles, frankincense and myrrh are rarely gifted. Their historic prestige lives mostly in symbolic remembrance during the Christmas season rather than everyday gift-giving.
What Can We Learn from This Evolution?
- Cultural Context Matters: Gifts make sense only within their cultural frames. Frankincense and myrrh once dazzled due to rarity, sacred associations, and trade networks.
- Language Shapes History: A possible mistranslation helped canonize an unusual gift (gold) alongside the aromatic resins.
- Religious Symbolism Has Staying Power: While popular culture moves on, religious meanings often preserve and transform ancient traditions.
- Trade and Economics Influence Value: When an item becomes easier to obtain or replaced by alternatives, it stops being a luxury gift.
So next Christmas, when you see nativity scenes with the Magi bearing gold, frankincense, and myrrh, remember: those gifts tell a story much bigger than just fancy presents. They reveal centuries of trade, translation quirks, religious symbolism, and cultural shifts that turned two ancient prized resins into rare curiosities today.
Could frankincense or myrrh ever make a comeback as a modern gift? Possibly—but only if we start seeing them as more than just sticky relics of an ancient past. Perhaps in a future where natural, rare aromas gain new appreciation, they might find fresh fans beyond cathedrals and Christmas carols.
Until then, it’s golden jewelry—and maybe a nice cologne—that rule the gift box.
Why are frankincense and myrrh rarely given as gifts outside religious settings today?
Frankincense and myrrh are mainly linked to religious rituals and symbolize prayer, suffering, and death. These meanings limit their appeal as everyday gifts.
When did frankincense and myrrh start to fall out of fashion as secular gifts?
There is no precise date, but their decline likely happened gradually as cultural and economic changes reduced their common use outside religious contexts.
Why were frankincense and myrrh important gifts in the biblical account of the Magi?
They carried symbolic meanings related to royalty, religious rituals, and links to death and rebirth. They also pointed to trade connections with Arabia.
Did the original meaning of gold as a gift differ from frankincense and myrrh?
Gold might have been included due to a mistranslation, as a word similar to gold in South Arabic also referred to an aromatic substance. This may explain the unusual mix.
Were the Magi truly historical figures bringing these specific gifts?
Most scholars agree that the nativity story, including the Magi and their gifts, is symbolic and not strictly historical.
