A Visit from Three
Kings
By Frances
Chaparro, Estela Muñoz and Adrian Zamilpa
It's Christmas Eve; the children have
been put to bed and on the coffee table sit a glass of milk and
a plate of cookies. Thoughts of new toys and stockings stuffed
with candy and other goodies make the night seem extra long for
the children. They can hardly wait for Christmas morning to
arrive.
For many families, December 25 is the
day when everyone wakes up to represents left behind by Santa
Claus. This is also the last day of the Christmas holidays. But
in areas throughout Mexico, such as our neighboring Juárez,
families still have a couple of weeks to go before the day for
exchanging gifts arrives.
After December 24, when the last posada
has been celebrated, they wait until January 6 for El Día de Los
Tres Reyes (Day of the Three Kings). This day celebrates the
arrival of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar at the place of
Jesus' birth.
The day is also known as El Día de Los
Reyes Magos (Magi) in Spanish and Epiphany in English
commemorates the divinity of Christ as manifested to the Magi,
the kings who brought him gifts. For this reason, children in
various parts of Mexico traditionally send their request for
gifts to the Wise Men, as opposed to the children in the United
States who send their letters to Santa.
On the night before El Día de Los
Reyes, the children fill their shoes with hay and leave them
outside. It is believed that the Wise Men will stop at each home
to feed their horses, leaving gifts in exchange for hay.
Finally, El Día de Los Reyes arrives,
and the whole family wakes up to open the gifts left by the
Three Kings. However, this is only the beginning. On that day,
family and friends gather, while the children keep busy playing
with their new toys.
The adults continue with the day's
activities by preparing a big dinner and serving a very special
dessert, a bread known as La Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings
Bread. Folklorist John West says the crown-shaped, glazed bread
is traditionally made with walnuts, grated orange peel, raisins
and candied cherries. A tiny doll representing Jesus and a coin
are also baked into the bread.
The person getting the coin in their
portion of bread will have good luck during the new year. The
person who receives the doll has to host a party known as La
Fiesta del Monito, or celebration of the doll. The fiesta is
held February 2, on El Día de la Calendaria (Candlemas).
Candlemas celebrates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the
presentation of the infant Christ in the temple. Candles are
traditionally blessed on this day, and the figure of the Christ
Child is raised from the nacimiento.
The days of Los Tres Reyes and La
Calendaria are old traditions that are still celebrated in areas
throughout Mexico. But they are being forgotten by many Mexican
families. Having relatives throughout the United States, many
people are adopting American customs. Thus Santa Claus is
quickly replacing the old traditions.
Still, for others, especially along the
border, it is important to keep both cultures an important part
of their lives. They celebrate Christmas morning with presents
from Santa and continue with the Three Kings and La Rosca de Los
Reyes on January 6, ending with Dia de La Calendaria and La
Fiesta del Monito on February 2, an interesting blend of
traditions.
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