What is El Dia de los Reyes?
El Dia de los Reyes, or Three Kings Day, is celebrated on January 6th of each year. The Reyes, or Kings, are the three Magi that followed the North Star to bring three gifts to Jesus, the newly born Christ Child. Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar traveled far to bring the baby Jesus three symbolic gifts- gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
How is El Dia de los Reyes celebrated?
In Spain and many Latin American countries, the day is celebrated with great fanfare. Each culture celebrates in slightly different ways. Children are asked to write letters to the Magi asking for a gift. The letters are then left in a shoebox full of hay (for the Magis’ camel), or attached to a helium balloon and let go into the sky. The children then leave their shoes out during the night of January 5th and a gift appears for them from los Reyes the next morning. The family celebrates with the traditional Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread shaped into a wreath with candied fruit baked on top, and a baby Jesus baked into the bread. The person with the baby Jesus in their slice has to either host a party, or bake tamales for the family, on Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas), which is celebrated on February 2nd. In some cultures, the baby Jesus from the rosca means the person will have good luck the entire year! El Dia de los Reyes is the 12th day of Christmas and traditionally marks the end of the holiday season.
How can I celebrate El Dia de los Reyes?
This website provides information on easy ways to celebrate the holiday! There are craft projects, books, and even a film, on this website to help you learn more about this cultural event!
El Dia de los Reyes, or Three Kings Day, is celebrated on January 6th of each year. The Reyes, or Kings, are the three Magi that followed the North Star to bring three gifts to Jesus, the newly born Christ Child. Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar traveled far to bring the baby Jesus three symbolic gifts- gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
How is El Dia de los Reyes celebrated?
In Spain and many Latin American countries, the day is celebrated with great fanfare. Each culture celebrates in slightly different ways. Children are asked to write letters to the Magi asking for a gift. The letters are then left in a shoebox full of hay (for the Magis’ camel), or attached to a helium balloon and let go into the sky. The children then leave their shoes out during the night of January 5th and a gift appears for them from los Reyes the next morning. The family celebrates with the traditional Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread shaped into a wreath with candied fruit baked on top, and a baby Jesus baked into the bread. The person with the baby Jesus in their slice has to either host a party, or bake tamales for the family, on Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas), which is celebrated on February 2nd. In some cultures, the baby Jesus from the rosca means the person will have good luck the entire year! El Dia de los Reyes is the 12th day of Christmas and traditionally marks the end of the holiday season.
How can I celebrate El Dia de los Reyes?
This website provides information on easy ways to celebrate the holiday! There are craft projects, books, and even a film, on this website to help you learn more about this cultural event!