In Mexico, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, and it is called “El Dia de Los Tres Reyes,” or “Three Kings Day.” It is the day when the three wise men from the east arrived looking for baby Jesus. The tradition has even given names to the three kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, and they arrived on horse, camel, and elephant.
I’m sure there are many ways of celebrating this day, but here are some of the things I have seen and learned in my time in Mexico. You can get your pictures taken with the three kings like you would get your picture taken with Santa Claus. The children write a note to the three kings asking for a gift (remember, they originally brought gifts to baby Jesus), and they send it off tied to a helium balloon. Then, the kings bring the gift for the children on the Three Kings Day.
Another tradition behind Three Kings Day is the Rosca de Reyes, which is a sweet bread that has a plastic baby Jesus inside of it. Each person cuts their piece of bread, and the one who finds the baby Jesus must have a party on the 2nd of February.
Photos by: Bookish in North Park via Flickr and SpacePotato
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