In Mexico the festivities do not end until January 6 which is Día De Los Reyes -the day of the three Kings.
The day of the three Kings is celebrated in honor of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar, also called the three wise men.
The three wise men were guided by the star of Bethlehem while were traveling by horse, camel and elephant to meet and bring gifts to the newborn baby Jesus.
In celebration of the Día De Los Reyes, the night before January 6 the children in Mexico leave their shoe outside and full of hay for the three wise men’s animals. The three wise men replace the hay with candies and toys for the children.
Then, family members and friends gather for dinner accompanied by a Rosca (Three Kings Wreath Bread) which the celebration cannot be without!
Our Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Wreath Bread):
Our bread symbolizes this day and it is made to celebrate it.
The ovular shape of the bread represents the figure of the king’s crown. The dried fruit on the bread represents the crown jewels. The baby figurine baked and hidden into the bread represents the baby Jesus.
The baby Jesus figurine inside the bread represents when Mary and Joseph hiding baby Jesus from the king who wanted to kill him. The family members and friends share the bread amongst themselves; the person who gets the baby Jesus figurine becomes the godmother/godfather in representation of a baptism and then have to host a dinner of tamales on February 2 which is the día de la Candelaria –day of the Candlemas.
Days prior to Día De Los Reyes you may find this bread at our market or at a Hispanic supermarket in your area.
Enjoy our video where one of our master bakers and Mr. Wow are cutting the Rosca de Reyes … Would they get the baby Jesus figurine?
[…] Día De Los Reyes […]