You might be surprised to learn that December 25 is not the biggest day of Christmas for many folks. For numerous households and countries, the most magical part of the festive season comes after the 12 days of Christmas: Three Kings Day (Los Reyes Magos in Spanish).You might be surprised to learn that December 25 is not the biggest day of the Christmas seaon for many folks. For numerous households and countries, the most magical part of the festive season comes after the 12 days of Christmas: Three Kings Day (Los Reyes Magos in Spanish).
Also known as the Epiphany, Three Kings Day is a fun, present-filled, and symbol-filled way to celebrate the story of Jesus. So grab an umbrella and some hay — you’ll thank us later — and take a wander through one of the world’s most magical times.
Where Do People Celebrate Three Kings Day, Los Reyes Magos?
Many Spanish-speaking and Latin American countries mark Three Kings Day, including Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Hispanic and Latino communities living abroad often commemorate the day, making Three Kings festivities popular in the United States and other countries.
This Christian festival came to the Americas’ shores after colonizer Christopher Columbus landed on October 12, 1492. As the Spanish empire spread, so did Catholicism and all its associated traditions, including Los Reyes Magos.
Three Kings Day takes place on January 6 every year, and it’s a holiday with many titles. Other names include Twelfth Night, Epiphany, The Day of the Kings, and Theophany.
How Do Mexicans Celebrate the Christmas Season?
Three Kings Day is part of many Hispanic Christmas traditions that lead up to Christmas. Overall, Mexico’s Christmas events span three months!
It starts on December 8 with the Día de la Inmaculada Concepción — Day of the Immaculate Conception — celebrating the birth of the Virgin Mary. Four days later is the Dia de la Virgin de Guadalupe, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This day marked when the Virgin Mary appeared to Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531.
Between December 16 and 24, there are processions throughout Mexico, with people asking for shelter from neighbors, mimicking the Bible story about Mary and Joseph. This is called Los Posadas, or The Inns, and people share drinks, songs, and good cheer.
Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) is a big Mexican party with food, family, friends, and drinks that often spill over into what is often a quieter Christmas Day. Presents and Santa Claus (Papa Noel) are usually absent on this day as people await the Three Kings rather than Santa.
People pick up the celebrations again by December 28, the Day of the Sainted Innocents, which is a time to tell jokes that range from the ridiculous to the satirical.
After all these celebrations comes Three Kings Day, Los Reyes Magos, on January 6, with a big parade beforehand on January 5. Christmas festivities finally end on February 2 when people take figurines from their homes to churches for blessings, a day called Candlemas.
What’s the Story Behind Three Kings Day?
Three Kings is a Catholic celebration that can be traced back to the 4th century. Christians will be familiar with the tale of the Magi, or Three Wise Men. These men were also Kings named Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar. Western church traditions depict Melchior as a king from Persia, Balthasar as a king of Arabia (occasionally Ethiopia), and Caspar as a king of India.
However, in the Bible, they are not called kings, nor is their number specified. They are called “wise men from the East” who follow the star of Bethlehem to a stable to pay homage to the newly born baby Jesus.
They brought gifts to Jesus: gold to symbolize Jesus’ role as King of the Jews; frankincense to represent his divinity as the Son of God; and, finally, myrrh to show Jesus’ mortality.
Why Do We Celebrate Three Kings Day, Los Reyes Magos?
People mark Three Kings Day to remember Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar visiting baby Jesus and bestowing gifts upon him. The act of giving gifts represents the ritual depicted in the Bible while providing believers the chance to recount the story of Jesus arriving in the mortal world. The modern-day manifestations of the Three Kings worldwide are deeply rooted in Spanish traditions.
How Is Three Kings Day Celebrated in Spain?
Spain’s Christmas festivities revolve around Three Kings Day rather than December 25. While Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feature important family meals together, the Three Kings is the main event.
It all starts the day before, on January 5, with parades in every town, village, and city across the country. These processions, called Cabalgata de Los Reyes Magos, the Three Kings’ Parade, are flamboyant, joyous, and sometimes raucous occasions. Spectators come well-prepared, taking up position sometimes hours in advance, bringing seats, step-ladders to get a better view, and umbrellas (wait for it!).
The “Three Kings” arrive at each place on floats, horseback, or sometimes even landing by boat. They then meander through the town or village, usually accompanied by bands, dancers, and music. The biggest and most spectacular parades in cities like Madrid and Barcelona last several hours, cost many millions of dollars, and are broadcast on national television.
Each “king” throws candies and sometimes small presents into the crowd. Those spectators’ umbrellas are now open and turned upside down, acting as candy-catching zones. Some lucky gatherers can take home many pounds of candy. It’s not uncommon to see children — and adults — scrabbling about to pick up candies, filling entire trash bags with sweet treats.
Most parades start around 6 pm and finish by about 8 pm. The timings mean children can head home, get to bed early, and await the Three Kings’ visit to their homes. Kids write letters to the kings and leave out snacks like hay for the Wise Men’s camels. But beware: Just like Santa doesn’t visit naughty kids, those who’ve misbehaved in Spain will only get a lump of coal from the Kings.
What Cake Do People Eat on Three Kings Day?
The traditional cake served on Three Kings day in Spain is a sweet-dough-based delight called roscón de reyes or rosca de reyes. The roscón is a circular cake garnished with candied fruits representing the precious stones that adorned the Three Kings’ clothing. Some roscas come filled with cream. In Mexico, the fruits also symbolize the colors of the Mexican flag.
Roscón comes from the Spanish word rosca, which means wreath, with roscón de reyes translating loosely as “the Kings’ big wreath.” Some people eat it after returning from the parade on January 5, while others have it for breakfast on January 6 or as dessert after a big lunch.
Within the cake is a little plastic king — the finder gets to be the monarch for the day, ordering people around. Also hidden in the dough is a bean, which no one wants. If your rosca slice contains the bean, you must buy the roscón cake next year. However, this tradition is a bit different for Mexicans celebrating Three Kings Day.
What Do Mexicans Do on Three Kings Day?
Mexico’s celebrations are similar to those followed in Spain, albeit with a few little twists. Mexico has adopted many different cultures, with Santa Claus (Papa Noel) often seen alongside images of the Three Kings.
There are festive lights lit across Mexico alongside the cabalgata when the Three Kings arrive and parade through the streets on January 5. Many nativity scenes are completed on this day, too, with the addition of the Three Kings arriving at the stable.
Rosca de reyes flavors range from cheese-based to guava, pineapple, or caramelized goat’s milk. It also contains a tiny plastic infant that symbolizes the baby Jesus rather than a king — this represents how Jesus had to be hidden from King Herod’s troops. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their slice hosts the Día de la Candelaria party on February 2, which signals the end of Mexico’s Christmas festivities.
It’s customary when friends and extended families come by on Three Kings Day to enjoy either hot chocolate or atole, a favorite Mexican corn-based drink served rich, thick, and warm.
Mexican food always takes center stage at Mexican fiestas, and Three Kings is no different. Tamales are standard during the holidays and Mexico’s vast terrain and varied climates mean dishes change depending on location.
What Do Kids Put Under the Beds During the Three Kings Celebration?
Families that follow Santa’s rules hang stockings on the fireplace or at the end of their beds, hoping to receive Christmas presents. The Christmas tree is also a prime place for Santa to leave his gifts.
However, it’s January 6 when those who honor the Three Kings exchange presents. Kids hoping Los Reyes Magos will visit them leave shoes out, often under the bed. Some children fill them with hay for the Kings’ camels that’ll be hungry after their journey.
With any luck, children will wake up to find their shoes filled with candies and small toys. Larger gifts may be left by the family’s nativity scene or under a Christmas tree.
What Gifts Are Given on Three Kings Day?
According to the Bible’s story, the Three Kings gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to baby Jesus. But modern-day presents are understandably different. Shoes under beds are filled with candies and toys, while more significant gifts are the same types that Santa might bring. Presents may be bought, homemade, or donated — the most important thing is the sentiment and thought behind the gift. Some people may give presents on Christmas Day and Three Kings Day, but the traditional gifting day is January 6.
It’s Time to Enjoy Three Kings Day, Los Reyes Magos
Three Kings Day, Los Reyes Magos, is a magical time of year enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.
There are many parallels between Santa Claus and the Kings. Mythical figures make miraculous journeys to visit children and reward them for being good. People come full of festive cheer and charity and look forward to being kind to each other. Families and friends get together, enjoy food and drinks, and exchange gifts.
Three Kings Day, however, follows a more Christian slant than Santa Claus. The Kings’ narratives are biblical, with a nativity scene, the story of baby Jesus’ birth, and the arrival of Wise Men or Kings following a star. The roscón cake symbolizes the kings and the gifts they bequeathed to baby Jesus.
Most importantly, these celebrations offer messages of generosity, companionship, and the joy of the human spirit. Whatever Christmas or Three Kings means to you, hopefully, your year brought you plenty of reasons to celebrate life. And remember, even a lump of coal has its uses!
Brought to you by amigoenergy
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