|
OnAlthough the Christmas season in Canada and the United States ends in
December, the festivities continue on through January in México. The Epiphany,
or Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), is a Catholic celebration that falls
on January 6. Three Kings Day celebrates the Biblical story of the Three
Kings (or Three Wise Men) who followed the star of Bethlehem to visit and
bring gifts for the Christ child. It is a day to celebrate the arrival of
hope and charity in the world. Traditionally, Three Kings Day was the gift-giving
time in México. Instead of receiving gifts on Christmas day, like their
northern counterparts, Mexican children would awake on January 6 to find
gifts delivered by the Three Kings. Since the Three Kings brought the gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, so too did they bring
gifts to the good boys and girls of México and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Like Santa Claus in Canada and the United States, the Three Kings would
be the recipients of children's letters and wish lists. In addition, the
Mexican children would leave their shoes near their bed or window on the
night of January 5, often filling them with hay for the camels and horses
that the Three Kings rode on. The next morning, when the children woke up,
the hay would be gone and the shoes would be full of presents. Nowadays,
however, influence from their northern neighbors seems to be phasing out
Three Kings Day as the gift-giving time of the Christmas season. Santa Claus
has replaced the Three Kings in many Mexican homes and some Mexican children
have come to expect gifts on both days. Although the |
|
tradition of gift-giving on Three Kings Day seems to be going out of fashion
in México, I think it makes a lot of sense to give presents on this day.
Before much of México adopted the western tradition of Christmas trees and
gifts from Santa, December 25 was a day for family time and to celebrate
the birth of Christ, leaving the gift-giving part of the season until the
new year. If México can incorporate both the western and indigenous traditions
of celebrating Christmas into their culture, why can't Canada and the U.S.
combine the Mexican tradition of Three Kings Day into their own festivities?
Besides, how well would this work with all of the "After-Christmas Sales"--
just in time for Three Kings Day! Despite the decline of the gift-giving
focus on Three Kings Day, the holiday is celebrated with a ritual still
popular today: the Rosca de Reyes. The rosca is a crown-shaped sweet bread
decorated with candied fruits to resemble jewels. Inside the rosca, one
or more tiny figures of babies are hidden. On January 6, a group of people--
for example a family or work gathering-- assemble for the festivities. Each
guest cuts their own piece of the rosca, hoping to avoid the piece with
the baby, or Christ child, figure. Those who are unlucky enough to bite
into a piece containing the figure are obliged to throw a party on or before
February 2, which is called El Día de la Candelaria, or Candlemas. El dia
de la Candelaria is the day of the Candle or Light, also known as the Day
of Purification. In addition to a party thrown by the "victim" of the rosca,
this is the day that the nativity scene is put away, marking the official
end of the holiday season. |
 |
|
