Three Kings' Day - Mexican

Hello! I am a holiday called Día de los Reyes Magos, which means Three Kings’ Day in English. People in Mexico celebrate me every year on the fixed date of January 6th. I am a special day that brings the Christmas season to a happy close. My purpose is to help families remember a very important story from the Christian faith. This story tells of three wise kings who saw a bright star in the sky and followed it. The star led them on a long journey to visit the baby Jesus, and they brought him special gifts.

One of my most delicious and well-known traditions is a special cake called the Rosca de Reyes. The name means “Kings’ Wreath” because the sweet bread is baked in a large circle, like a crown or a wreath. To make it even more beautiful, it is decorated with colorful candied fruits. These sweet gems sparkle on top of the bread and are meant to look like the jewels on a king’s crown. When it is time to eat, families and friends gather together. They cut big slices of the Rosca and often enjoy it with cups of warm, frothy hot chocolate.

Eating the Rosca de Reyes is also a fun game because there is a surprise hidden inside! Baked right into the sweet bread is a tiny doll that looks like a baby. This little figure represents the infant Jesus from the story of the three kings. Everyone hopes to get a plain slice of cake, but one lucky person will find the doll. According to tradition, whoever finds the baby in their slice becomes a “godparent” to the child for the day. This person is given a special job to do. They must host a party for everyone on another holiday in February called Día de la Candelaria, or Candlemas Day.

For many children in Mexico, I am one of the most exciting times of the year. My traditions include giving and receiving gifts. The night before I arrive, on the evening of January 5th, children prepare for the kings’ visit. They carefully place their shoes by a window, near the door, or under their bed. Some children also leave out a dish of water and a bit of hay as a snack for the kings’ tired camels, who have traveled a very long way. When the children wake up on the morning of January 6th, they run to their shoes and find them filled with wonderful toys and presents left for them by the Three Kings.