In the Spanish speaking countries, as well as many European countries, Three Kings Day is the time that the children receive their "Christmas presents". Each country has a little different way they celebrate the last day of the Christmas season.
In certain areas of Mexico, the children receive gifts from the Three Kings who arrive during the night of January 5th. They write a letter to the Kings and on the evening of January 5th, they set out their shoes for their gifts. Sometimes they leave a little food and water for the Kings, and even a few morsels of food for the animals on which the Kings ride.
After the story, each child received a gift from the Three Kings. This little boy holds a puzzle as Melchior (the oldest king!) beckons to the next child who will receive the teddy bear he is holding.
Earlier in the afternoon, there was a piñata workshop and the children made a small piñata, and played some games. In the picture below, the children are playing Mexican Bingo (La Lottería).
They also served tamales and atole to everyone! Atole is a delicious, warm drink made of corn, which comes in many flavors.
The tamale line was long but the food was warm and very good, and well worth the wait! This was a surprise that I didn't expect: tamales and atole---yum!
There was also entertainment! Some members of a church (I don't remember which church it was) are learning Mexican folkloric dances and performed two dances for us.
This dance was from Chiapas, a state in the south of Mexico.
The state of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, was represented by this dance.
The two girls on the right carry statues of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus, riding on the burro, and Joseph walking beside her. They placed this in the front on the dance floor. On the left, the young man, carrying a branch, leads the procession of people with candles.
During the dance, Mary, holding the baby Jesus, Joseph and the angel, watch the dancers.
The people bow their heads before beginning the dance.
No Three Kings Day is complete until the "Rosca de Reyes" is cut!
The "Rosca de Reyes" is a round cake and hidden inside is a small porcelain doll. The person who gets the doll must host a tamale party on Candlemas Day (February 2nd). The fun never ends!!
The ladies are serving the Rosca de Reyes. The pink liquid in the cup next to the napkins is atole and a slice of the cake is on the plate next to the manger. Do you see the star over the manger?
This is the Nacimiento (Manager) with the star which was on the table.
The narrator for the day was bilingual so everyone could understand what was being said. It was a nice afternoon and I was pleased to see so many people attending the celebration.
Hasta luego.
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