Every January 6 we celebrate in Mexico the so-called Three Kings Day where the children wake up very early in the morning and run to open the gifts that the Three Kings of the East have left at the Christmas tree or near the representation of the Nativity.
Mexico traditionally closes out its festive season known as 'Guadalupe-Reyes' on January 6th —"Día de Reyes"— Kings' Day. Never a country to shirk its festive responsibilities, Mexico traditionally closes out its Christmas and New Year celebrations on January 6th, Día de Reyes or Three Kings Day.
The holiday traditions span all the way until Epiphany, the climactic celebration of the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, on January 6th. On this, El Día de los Reyes (Day of Kings, or Three Kings Day), families memorialize the day the Three Kings found baby Jesus and bestowed their fine gifts.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6, we celebrate Three Kings Day! Celebrated most in Europe, Spain, and Latin America, 'El Dia de los Reyes', as it's called in Spanish, marks the glorification of baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
But in Spain, the Feast of the Epiphany or the Three Kings' Day is a celebration of the adoration of the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi, or the Three Kings. Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar travelled to present baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
On January 6th to celebrate Epiphany, Spaniards typically tuck into this Roscón de Reyes (also called rosca or rosco), a golden brioche shaped like a large doughnut decorated with candied fruit.
It is believed that on this day, the three wise men — Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar — presented baby Jesus with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrhh. Many Christians across Europe, mainly in Spain, and in Latin America celebrate this holiday.
Rosca de reyes, or Kings Cake, is customly eaten on Jan. 6, or Dia de Reyes. The tradition of eating the bread 12 days after Christmas is based on beliefs in the Christian faith. Inside every rosca de reyes is a little plastic baby, symbolizing the newborn messiah.
Known as El Día de los Reyes or Día de Reyes or Día de los Reyes Magos, this is the day that many children still receive their gifts, rather than at Christmas.
Traditional Mexican Food on Three Kings Day
Atole is a corn-based drink served rich, thick, and warm. These are usually served with the Rosca de Reyes. Other traditional foods for the feast of the Epiphany are black beans and rice, soups, and salads that highlight yucca, nopales (cactus leaf), and plantains.
Also known as Epiphany, Three Kings' Day for Catholics, and particularly Hispanics, celebrates the arrival in Bethlehem of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts for the baby Jesus.
Día de Muertos (Day of The Dead)
The Day of the Dead is a two-day celebration celebrated in Mexico. It is a party full of magic and folklore that dates back to pre-Columbian times to honor deceased family and friends.
Parades and parties are commonplace. In Mexico and among Mexican families in the US, another tradition revolves around the baking and eating of a special treat known as rosca de reyes, or Three Kings bread. This is a sweet bread that contains a baby Jesus doll hidden within.
Christmas in Mexico is observed from December 12 to January 6, with one additional celebration on February 2. Traditional decorations displayed on this holiday include nativity scenes, poinsettias, and Christmas trees.
Día de Los Reyes, Happy Three Kings Day - The Lakelander.
Santa Claus and Mexican Christmas traditions
Traditionally, in Mexico, children don't receive presents from Santa Claus. However, his popularity is growing in Mexican Christmas celebrations. Because of this, some children will receive gifts on 24 December – or Christmas Eve – as well as on 6 January for Dia de Reyes.
Three Wise Men are the ones believed to bring gifts not only to baby Jesus but also to millions of Mexican children who have placed written requests in their shoes. Also unlike in the US where children get presents on 25th December, most Mexican kids receive their gifts at Epiphany (January 6th).
Every year, Three Kings' Day is celebrated on January 6th.
Upon arriving, these three kings offered three gifts: gold, incense, and myrrh.
Typically, children give and receive gifts on Three Kings Day. In some parts of the world (primarily in Spain), children also leave their shoes by the door so the three kings will come in the night and fill their shoes with small gifts—just like on Saint Nicholas Day!
In Mexico, friends, families and colleagues get together on Jan. 6, Three Kings Day, to share rosca de reyes and hot chocolate or atole, a Mexican beverage. It's a popular way to cap the holiday season.
The “Roscón de Reyes” (Kings Cake) is a traditional cake which is consumed by the Spanish on – and around – 3 Kings day (6th January).
One holiday baking tradition we cherish is the Rosca de Reyes or “Wreath of the Kings,” a traditional sweet bread eaten every January 6 for Día de Los Reyes, Three Kings Day. Also known as Epiphany, the holiday is celebrated throughout the Christian world.
Three wise men, or Magi as they were known, whose names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, traveled a far distance to pay homage to Christ. They brought with them fine gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three Kings Day, or El Dia de Reyes, remains an important holiday for Catholics.
At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents.
A festive tradition in Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico and many Latin American countries, Three Kings Day, or the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorates the arrival of the three kings (Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar) in Bethlehem to worship the newborn Christ child.