Día de Reyes Los Reyes Magos. Día de Reyes Latin and Hispanic countries celebrate Kings Day. This is a special day where the Three Kings are honored.

Día de Reyes Día de Reyes

Los Reyes Magos Los Reyes Magos

Día de ReyesDía de Reyes

Latin and Hispanic countries Latin and Hispanic countries celebrate Kings Day. This is a celebrate Kings Day. This is a special day where the Three Kings special day where the Three Kings are honored. The 12 days of are honored. The 12 days of Christmas lead up to this day, the Christmas lead up to this day, the great Epiphany, where the 3 Kings great Epiphany, where the 3 Kings came to bring gifts to the baby came to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. Jesus.

¿Quiénes son los ¿Quiénes son los reyes magos?reyes magos?

El Rey MelchorEl Rey Melchor

Melchor was the Sultan of Arabia. He Melchor was the Sultan of Arabia. He was the oldest of the Magi Saints. was the oldest of the Magi Saints. Melchor had a long white beard and Melchor had a long white beard and wore elegant robes. His gift was gift wore elegant robes. His gift was gift was frankincense, which is distilled from was frankincense, which is distilled from a tree in Arabia. This was burned in the a tree in Arabia. This was burned in the Temple services to produce a fragrance Temple services to produce a fragrance that honored God. Saint Melchor’s that honored God. Saint Melchor’s figure goes before the others in the figure goes before the others in the manger scene. manger scene.

El Rey Gaspar El Rey Gaspar

Gaspar was the Emperor of the Orient Gaspar was the Emperor of the Orient (Persia) and ruled over all oriental (Persia) and ruled over all oriental lands. He is also represented with lands. He is also represented with

white hair. His clothes were gilded in white hair. His clothes were gilded in gold. King Gaspar's gift was gold. It is gold. King Gaspar's gift was gold. It is said that Gaspar traveled the furthest said that Gaspar traveled the furthest

to visit the Christ Child. to visit the Christ Child.

El Rey Baltazar El Rey Baltazar

Baltazar was a Nubian King and ruler of Baltazar was a Nubian King and ruler of Ethiopia. Baltazar was dressed in exquisite Ethiopia. Baltazar was dressed in exquisite robes. His gift was myrrh, a precious and robes. His gift was myrrh, a precious and aromatic resin that comes from the bark of aromatic resin that comes from the bark of thorny African trees. Myrrh was used to thorny African trees. Myrrh was used to symbolize suffering. It was one of the symbolize suffering. It was one of the ingredients of the holy ointment. It is also ingredients of the holy ointment. It is also used in medicine and as a perfume. used in medicine and as a perfume.

Leading up to the Leading up to the big celebration big celebration

Pocos días antes del sies de Pocos días antes del sies de enereo enereo

A couple of days earlier, the children write their letters to the A couple of days earlier, the children write their letters to the Wise Men, or to their favorite Wise Men, or to their favorite Rey MagoRey Mago: Melchor, Gaspar, or : Melchor, Gaspar, or Baltasar, asking for the presents they would like to receive. Baltasar, asking for the presents they would like to receive.

During the evenings before the great celebration on January During the evenings before the great celebration on January 6, families go to the6, families go to the Alameda, Alameda, in Mexico City, a beautiful in Mexico City, a beautiful park that dates back to the Colonial era. There, every year, park that dates back to the Colonial era. There, every year, hundreds of stands are placed with food, toys and best of all, hundreds of stands are placed with food, toys and best of all, there are sets, where the children can have their picture there are sets, where the children can have their picture taken with the Three Kings of the Orient. taken with the Three Kings of the Orient.

Hundreds of multicolored balloons, filled with helium, are Hundreds of multicolored balloons, filled with helium, are sold during the season, so the little ones can attach their sold during the season, so the little ones can attach their letters to them, and have them fly, up to the sky, carrying all letters to them, and have them fly, up to the sky, carrying all their wishes with them. If they forgot their letters at home, their wishes with them. If they forgot their letters at home, there is no need to worry, there are also salesmen that offer there is no need to worry, there are also salesmen that offer writing paper and envelopes specially designed for the writing paper and envelopes specially designed for the occasion and addressed to the occasion and addressed to the Reyes MagosReyes Magos

Víspera de Reyes Víspera de Reyes On On La Víspera de ReyesLa Víspera de Reyes (the Eve of Three (the Eve of Three

Kings Day) Puerto Rican children cut grass to Kings Day) Puerto Rican children cut grass to put in a shoe box under their bed for the camels put in a shoe box under their bed for the camels to eat. Their "wish list" is placed on top of the to eat. Their "wish list" is placed on top of the grass. The Reyes only come if the children have grass. The Reyes only come if the children have been good all year. If the children are awake, been good all year. If the children are awake, the Kings bypass the house. the Kings bypass the house.

On this night children sleep lightly listening for On this night children sleep lightly listening for any strange noises, whispers, or maybe sounds any strange noises, whispers, or maybe sounds of the camels' hooves. Sometime during the of the camels' hooves. Sometime during the night Los Reyes arrive and quietly leave their night Los Reyes arrive and quietly leave their gifts for the children while their camels enjoy gifts for the children while their camels enjoy their snack.their snack.

*Día de los reyes**Día de los reyes* In the morning everyone is filled In the morning everyone is filled

with the joy and the laughter of with the joy and the laughter of happy children enjoying their new happy children enjoying their new toys. It is a day full of celebration.toys. It is a day full of celebration.

Later in the day a holiday dinner is Later in the day a holiday dinner is prepared and friends and relatives prepared and friends and relatives join in the festivities. Relatives join in the festivities. Relatives bring the children the boxes left bring the children the boxes left under their beds, now empty of under their beds, now empty of grass but filled with gifts.grass but filled with gifts.

LA ROSCALA ROSCA

People go to the markets and stores to get the needed ingredients to prepare People go to the markets and stores to get the needed ingredients to prepare the feast. the feast.

All over the country, in every city and in every little town, bakeries offer the All over the country, in every city and in every little town, bakeries offer the Rosca de Reyes,Rosca de Reyes, an oval sweetbread, decorated with candied fruit. There are an oval sweetbread, decorated with candied fruit. There are RoscasRoscas of all sizes, very small ones for two or three people and up to the ones of all sizes, very small ones for two or three people and up to the ones that will delight more that twenty people. that will delight more that twenty people.

    The The Merienda de ReyesMerienda de Reyes is truly a multicultural event. The Spaniards brought is truly a multicultural event. The Spaniards brought

the tradition of celebrating the Epiphany and sharing the the tradition of celebrating the Epiphany and sharing the RoscaRosca to the New to the New World. The World. The RoscaRosca is served along with is served along with TamalesTamales, made of corn which was the , made of corn which was the pre-Hispanic food per excel lance, and hot chocolate. Chocolate is also a gift pre-Hispanic food per excel lance, and hot chocolate. Chocolate is also a gift from the native peoples of the New World. from the native peoples of the New World.

Hidden inside this delicious Hidden inside this delicious RoscaRosca, a plastic figurine of the Baby Jesus. The , a plastic figurine of the Baby Jesus. The Baby is hidden because it symbolizes the need to find a secure place where Baby is hidden because it symbolizes the need to find a secure place where Jesus could be born. Each person cuts a slice of the Jesus could be born. Each person cuts a slice of the Rosca Rosca . The knife . The knife symbolizes the danger in which the Baby Jesus was in. One by one the guests symbolizes the danger in which the Baby Jesus was in. One by one the guests carefully inspect their slice, hopping they didn't get the figurine. carefully inspect their slice, hopping they didn't get the figurine.

Whoever gets the baby figurine shall be the host, and invite everyone present to Whoever gets the baby figurine shall be the host, and invite everyone present to a new celebration on February 2, a new celebration on February 2, Candelaria Candelaria or Candle mass day, and he also or Candle mass day, and he also shall get a new shall get a new RopónRopón or dress for the Baby Jesus of the Nativity scene. or dress for the Baby Jesus of the Nativity scene.

LA CANCIÓN DE LOS LA CANCIÓN DE LOS REYES MAGOS REYES MAGOS Los tres Santos Reyes, los tres y los tres,

los tres Santos Reyes, los tres y los tres, Los saludaremos con divina fe, los saludaremos con divina fe.

Los tres santos Reyes, yo los sé contar,Los tres santos Reyes, yo los sé contar,

Gaspar y Melchor y el Rey Baltazar.Gaspar y Melchor y el Rey Baltazar.

Llegan con cautela, la Estrella los guíaLlegan con cautela, la Estrella los guíase sientes sus pasos, en la noche fríase sientes sus pasos, en la noche fría

Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedidaal corazón santo, dulce de María

Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedidaal corazón santo, dulce de María

Señores adiós porque ya nos vamosSeñores adiós porque ya nos vamostodos los presentes pasen feliz añotodos los presentes pasen feliz año

Los desfilesLos desfiles

En muchas ciudades la gente celebra el día de En muchas ciudades la gente celebra el día de los tres Reyes Magos. La gente asisita a un los tres Reyes Magos. La gente asisita a un desfile desfile

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