How to Celebrate Three Kings Day in Mexico

While Christian Americans enjoy a big celebration on Christmas Day, Christians in Mexico have their celebration on Three Kings Day or El Dia de los Reyes. This holiday is celebrated twelve days after Christmas on January 6th. It commemorates the day the Three Wise Men (Melchoir, Gaspar, and Baltazar) arrived in Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Write a letter to the Three Wise Men asking for the gifts you hope to receive. Just as American kids send letters to Santa asking for presents, children in Mexico write similar letters that also include explanations of how they've been good and deserve gifts. These letters are then tied to a balloon and lit so that they burn as they float away. The smoke send offs the requests. You also can place the letters in a shoe, which is left under the nativity or Christmas tree.

2. Leave gifts out for the Wise Men and their animals on the evening of January 5th. Traditionally Mexican children will fill their shoes with hay for the camels and leave water and other food out for the Wise Men. The kids then go to bed early.

3. Wake up early the morning of January 6th to receive your gifts. Kids will find their letters, hay, water and food have been replaced with toys and other presents.

4. Gather together with family and friends to celebrate the day. One key tradition is the Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread baked in the form of a crown. It's filled with nuts, figs and cherries and colorfully decorated with pieces of orange and lime. This treat is usually served with hot chocolate. There is also a small doll baked inside the bread to remember how Jesus had to be hidden from King Herod and his army. The person who finds the doll is responsible for hosting Candlemas Day, the final celebration of the Christmas season, on February 2nd.