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. The 12 days of Christmas
lead up to this day, the great Epiphany, where
the 3 Kings came to bring gifts to the baby
Jesus.
¿Quiénes son los reyes
magos?
El Rey Melchor

Melchor was the Sultan of Arabia. He was the
oldest of the Magi Saints. Melchor had a long
white beard and wore elegant robes. His gift
was gift was frankincense, which is distilled from
a tree in Arabia. This was burned in the Temple
services to produce a fragrance that honored
God. Saint Melchor’s figure goes before the
others in the manger scene.
El Rey Gaspar

Gaspar was the Emperor of the Orient (Persia)
and ruled over all oriental lands. He is also
represented with white hair. His clothes were
gilded in gold. King Gaspar's gift was gold. It is
said that Gaspar traveled the furthest to visit the
Christ Child.
El Rey Baltazar

Baltazar was a Nubian King and ruler of Ethiopia. Baltazar
was dressed in exquisite robes. His gift was myrrh, a
precious and aromatic resin that comes from the bark of
thorny African trees. Myrrh was used to symbolize
suffering. It was one of the ingredients of the holy
ointment. It is also used in medicine and as a perfume.
Leading up to the big
celebration
Pocos días antes del sies de enereo

A couple of days earlier, the children write their letters to the Wise Men, or
to their favorite Rey Mago: Melchor, Gaspar, or Baltasar, asking for the
presents they would like to receive.

During the evenings before the great celebration on January 6, families go to
the Alameda, in Mexico City, a beautiful park that dates back to the Colonial
era. There, every year, hundreds of stands are placed with food, toys and best
of all, there are sets, where the children can have their picture taken with the
Three Kings of the Orient.

Hundreds of multicolored balloons, filled with helium, are sold during the
season, so the little ones can attach their letters to them, and have them fly,
up to the sky, carrying all their wishes with them. If they forgot their letters
at home, there is no need to worry, there are also salesmen that offer writing
paper and envelopes specially designed for the occasion and addressed to the
Reyes Magos
Víspera de Reyes


On La Víspera de Reyes (the Eve of Three Kings Day)
Puerto Rican children cut grass to put in a shoe box under
their bed for the camels to eat. Their "wish list" is placed
on top of the grass. The Reyes only come if the children
have been good all year. If the children are awake, the
Kings bypass the house.
On this night children sleep lightly listening for any
strange noises, whispers, or maybe sounds of the camels'
hooves. Sometime during the night Los Reyes arrive and
quietly leave their gifts for the children while their camels
enjoy their snack.
*Día de los reyes*


In the morning everyone is filled with the joy
and the laughter of happy children enjoying
their new toys. It is a day full of celebration.
Later in the day a holiday dinner is prepared
and friends and relatives join in the festivities.
Relatives bring the children the boxes left
under their beds, now empty of grass but filled
with gifts.
LA ROSCA

People go to the markets and stores to get the needed ingredients to prepare the feast.

All over the country, in every city and in every little town, bakeries offer the Rosca de Reyes, an
oval sweetbread, decorated with candied fruit. There are Roscas of all sizes, very small ones for
two or three people and up to the ones that will delight more that twenty people.

The Merienda de Reyes is truly a multicultural event. The Spaniards brought the tradition of
celebrating the Epiphany and sharing the Rosca to the New World. The Rosca is served along
with Tamales, made of corn which was the pre-Hispanic food per excel lance, and hot chocolate.
Chocolate is also a gift from the native peoples of the New World.

Hidden inside this delicious Rosca, a plastic figurine of the Baby Jesus. The 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 Rosca . The knife 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.

Whoever gets the baby figurine shall be the host, and invite everyone present to a new celebration
on February 2, Candelaria or Candle mass day, and he also shall get a new Ropón or dress for the
Baby Jesus of the Nativity scene.
LA CANCIÓN DE LOS 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 guía
Llegan con cautela, la Estrella los guía
se sientes sus pasos, en la noche fría
se sientes sus pasos, en la noche fría
Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedida
al corazón santo, dulce de María
Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedida
al corazón santo, dulce de María
Señores adiós porque ya nos vamos
Señores adiós porque ya nos vamos
todos los presentes pasen feliz año
todos los presentes pasen feliz año
Los desfiles
En muchas ciudades la gente celebra el día de los tres Reyes
Magos. La gente asisita a un desfile
http://www.elmuseo.org/3kings.html