The Magi, of course, were the Wise Men (traditionally three) who brought gifts to the Christ child. “Giving in the Christmas spirit” is giving sacrificially [as Jesus was later to do], and each of the givers in the O. Henry story sacrificed his or her most precious possession. Ironically, of course, the gifts lost their point, because they could no longer be used for their intended purpose. This only confirmed that it was the giving, and not the gifts, that mattered. The gifts of the original Magi, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, had symbolic meaning, but the baby had no use for any of them, either.

In Virgil’s “Aeneid” is the quotation ‘Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit,’ which the “Oxford Dictionary of Quotations” translates: “The day may dawn when this plight shall be sweet to remember.” That day will dawn for the gift-givers.

The Magi are the 3 kings who brought gifts to Jesus- the title refers to wonderful gifts of the spirit as well as the real physical gifts. A very sweet story.