It is considered to be good luck if the figurine is in the slice you receive. The person who finds the figurine of Jesus is designated to throw a fiesta and provide tamales on Día de la Candelaria which falls on February 2nd.
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.
The Rosca itself symbolizes the King's crown, the dried fruit symbolizes jewels, while the plastic baby symbolizes Jesus in hiding. If you find the plastic figure, you're a symbolic godparent and must sponsor a tamalada celebration on February 2nd, or Día de la Candelaria.
During Día de Los Reyes, Mexicans serve Rosca de Reyes, or King's Cake. “Rosca” means wreath and “reyes” means kings. The Rosca de Reyes has an oval shape to symbolize a crown and has a small doll inside, which represents baby Jesus. The doll figure symbolizes the hiding of the infant Jesus from King Herod's troops.
Catholics celebrate the Magi's arrival on January 6th, known as “the Epiphany,” and Rosca de Reyes is a bready dessert eaten on this feast day, during which many also receive gifts. Rosca de Reyes tends to be tender enough on day one but the sweet bread petrifies at a startling rate.
A small plastic figurine is placed inside the Rosca bread prior to cutting, this figurine represents baby Jesus. It is considered to be good luck if the figurine is in the slice you receive.
Many Nebraskans celebrate it with a unique Mexican tradition that has a lot of people going to bakeries searching for this special pastry every year. Rosca de Reyes is a traditional bread enjoyed by Christians to commemorate El Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos or Three Kings' Day.
So, where did it all begin? Well, it started in France during the 14th century. Back then, the serving of the cake was a ritual in itself. The French gave the first slice of bread to a poor person or stranger and passed the next few pieces to those serving in the King's army.
"...in Venezuela a "rosca" can mean something like a gang, sometimes with mafia-like overtones. Oftentime "roscas" monopolize businesses or fix prices."
It is important that you explain to your guests, that there are 2 little plastic dolls. The ones who find them in their slice during the feast, have to make a party on the February 2nd (Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas Day), inviting all the guests that are present and offering them tamales and Mexican hot chocolate.
Tradition dictates that whoever finds the baby must bring tamales to the Feb. 2 celebration of Dia de la Candelaria, or Candlemas Day. In very large roscas, multiple babies are hidden in the cake, resulting in more tamales and a bigger party.
The traditional bread is enjoyed in Mexico to commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men to see baby Jesus after his birth and it officially ends the holiday season in Latin America. The Rosca de Reyes was brought to Mexico about 150 years ago from Europe.
Traditionally, on January 6th, the Rosca is cut and dispersed among family, friends, or co-workers. Each person who is participating is given a piece. Whoever gets the plastic toy in their piece is tasked with throwing La Fiesta de La Candelaria.
Along with enjoying a delicious sweet bread, we always anticipated who would be the “lucky” ones to get baby Jesus in their rosca as Mexican bakeries usually add at least three plastic baby Jesus figurines baked into the bread.
Roscas come with sugar and colorful candies on top. The Rosca holds plastic baby Jesus toys inside and whomever gets a baby Jesus in their slice, is responsible to host a dinner and/or serve tamales on February 2nd, Candlemas day.
The shape of the Rosca symbolizes a crown, in this case, the crown of King Herod from whom they were trying to hide the infant Jesus. The dried fruit placed on top are jewels on the crown. The figurine in the Rosca represents baby Jesus in hiding.
"Rosca" means wreath and "Reyes" means kings, so a direct translation of Rosca de Reyes would be "Kings' Wreath". The sweet bread is shaped in the form of a wreath and usually has candied fruit on top, and a figurine of a baby baked inside (now made of plastic but previously they were porcelain or tin).
The oval-shaped bread is a tradition for Three Kings Day. The holiday commemorates the story of the Three Wise Men visiting Jesus. Inside every Rosca de Reyes are baby Jesus figurines. The tradition is that if you cut into a piece with the figurine inside, you must host the next party for your family.
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.
In Mexican tradition, finding the baby Jesus in your slice of Rosca de Reyes means that you (and the other people who get a baby in their slice) will host a party on February 2nd (Dia de la Candelaria). Each “winner” is to contribute a piece of the party: tamales, champurrado, sweets, etc.
Día de la Candelaria happens on February 2 and is also known as “Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin” or as the “Presentation of the Lord.” This holiday is known as Candlemas in English, because candles are brought to the church to be blessed.
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.
The Rosca arrived in Mexico during the Spanish conquest and is filled with religious symbolism. The oval or circular shape symbolizes the infinite love of God. The fruits that decorate it make reference to the gifts the Three Kings brought to Baby Jesus.
“There is traditionally a baby hidden inside the cake,” said Swift. “When the cake is sliced and served whoever gets the baby is declared king for the day. They also are responsible for hosting next year's Fat Tuesday party and bringing the King Cake!”
The second much-anticipated birthday is a child's third birthday, the Presentación de Tres Años. This milestone celebrates a child's life with a day-long celebration. There's typically a mass at church and a family gathering in which the youngster wears an elaborate outfit.