Three Kings’ Day Celebrations

Photo El Museo del Barrio

My personal memories of the Christmas season are probably different from those of southern Mexicans, for we had many Americanized customs in the north.  We celebrated Christmas pretty much as we do now in New York and exchanged gifts on Christmas Day. We never celebrated Three King’s Day , January 6th, which is the gift-giving day in many parts of Mexico and Latin America.For this feast it is traditional to bake a yeast cake in the shape of a large ring (rosca) with a tiny clay figurine or a bean hidden inside. (see recipe  on this section) The one who gets the piece of the rosca with this symbol of the Magis’ gifts must host the party for Candlemas Day on February 2, the day of the Presentation at the Temple. Three Kings Day ends the Christmas season, and it is maybe a more beautiful sequence than the one here, where everything is an anticlimax after Christmas.

So I was astounded to discover that Three Kings’ Day is celebrated with much fanfare in New York City by Puerto Ricans and Nuyorikans because it is a major holiday in their homeland.  The Museo del Barrio has been involved in its organization from  the beginning and many festivities are planned including a spectacular  parade where men dressed in the finery of the Three Kings ride camels down Fifth Avenue. For informatioin go to their website.

Realizing how important the holiday is for the Hispanic and Latino residents, the City of New York has gotten involved and you can find information on the site

Another children’s site Mommy Poppins also has information on the holiday.

The city of Brooklyn’s celebration is organized by a very worthwhile organization called El Puente :
Three Kings Day Festival

Each year the Three Wise Men follow a star to Brooklyn, crossing “El Puente” with gifts of Peace, Justice and Human Rights. The Three Kings celebration is a sacred cornerstone of Latino Holiday festivities, fostering an atmosphere of joy, giving and the celebration of a magical tradition. El Puente celebrates with food, music and a stage performance retelling the story of the Three Kings, teaching our children the values of sharing and caring in our community and preserving our cultural traditions. Each year around January 6th El Puente presents its Three Kings Celebration to over 1,600 members of Brooklyn’s Latino community of Williamsburg and Bushwick.

And check other links for more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(Christian)

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS94743+29-Dec-2008+PRN20081229

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Three+Kings+Days&search_type=&aq=f