Three Kings return to Czechia to raise money for Caritas for 25th year

At the start of January, the Three Kings will again be seen in cities, towns and villages across Czechia, raising money for the Catholic charitable organisation Caritas Czech Republic and its many good causes.

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar – the three Magi or ‘kings’ whose journey to Bethlehem is recounted in the Bible’s Gospel of Matthew – are set to return to Czechia for another year, raising money with their performances of traditional carols. The sight of singing children dressed up in kingly robes and crowns is a hallmark of the Christmas season in Czechia, which concludes with the feast of Epiphany on January 6th.

The money collected from this year’s ‘Tříkrálová sbírka’ will be passed on to Caritas Czech Republic, the Czech branch of the international Catholic charity. Gabriela Víšová, the national coordinator for the event, spoke to Radiožurnál about the collection and those participating:

Photo: Luboš Pavlíček, ČTK

“The collection is open all year round, so donors can contribute to the account or to our online money box all year, but the carollers will be meeting on the traditional dates, from January 1st to 14th ... We expect that approximately eighty thousand volunteers will participate in the collection. You will recognise them by the fact that, in addition to the traditional Three Kings costumes, they also have a money box with the Caritas Czech Republic logo. The money box is sealed and they are also equipped with an ID card that confirms that they are carollers for the Three Kings Collection.”

Last year’s collection was record-breaking, raising 172 million crowns for the various causes that Caritas supports. These include recovery efforts after the floods of September 2024, and caregiving institutions like the Hospice of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Červený Kostelec or the Home of St. Joseph near Dvůr Králové nad Labem, the only specialised facility in the country for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. Gabriela Víšová also stressed, however, that Caritas was not looking to break any records:

“It's really not a hunt for new records; every crown helps, and we believe that a visit from the carollers will above all delight you. It's a sure chance to create a nice start for the new year, with a good deed and a beautiful encounter.”

The Three Kings Collection is a flagship event for Caritas, and this year, they have launched a catchy new modern carol (simply entitled Tři králové ‘Three Kings’), which was composed and sung by popular singer-songwriter Michal Horák.

Michal Horák - Tři králové (Official Video)

• Edit
• Delete

Representatives of Caritas will also be collecting money at the annual Epiphany procession in the centre of Prague on January 3rd. Following a special service in Malá Strana, the procession, led by the Three Kings on camels, will set off at 3:30 pm. They will travel across Charles Bridge and into the Old Town, ending up on Old Town Square, where they will present their gifts to the Infant Jesus. Visitors will also be treated to a performance of Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass.