The Epiphany of the Three Kings or Three Kings Day
(By: Fabiola I. Jirau and Dante, family pictures from Fabiola)
The Latin culture or Latino people keep the tradition of celebrating the Three Kings Day on January 6. It is believed that the Three Wise Men or Three Kings followed a mysterious light which became a star that hung in the western sky. They followed this sign to Bethlehem, where they arrived to honor the birth of Christ. They gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh as a gift. The names of the Three Kings were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
The Three Kings Day is like a second Christmas for Latino people. The '12 Days of Christmas' begin on December 25 th and run through January 6, ending with the Fest of Epiphany or Three Kings Day. On the evening before the Epiphany, kids gather grass, hay, or straw in shoe boxes for the Wise Men's horses or camels. People also exchange presents. On the evening before, there were also prayers. In some places people would write with chalk C+M+B, which stands for Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
Another custom was called the Star Singers. From New Years through January 6, children dressed as the Kings, and holding up a large star, go from door to door, caroling and singing a Three Kings' song. For this they receive money or sweets. This tradition is still popular in Bavaria and Austria. In Puerto Rico, where I was born, some children follow the tradition and call it 'Aguinaldo'. Men also dress like the Three Kings and travel around the island. Their stop in Old San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is the largest of the island's celebration.
Interviews
Abu: 'The day before The Three Wise Men come, my family and I would go outside to my garden to pick some grass and put it into a shoe box. Then I would put the shoe box in the entrance of the house. We would also put a bucket full of water. When The Three Wise Men came in the middle of the night they would put the presents near the nativity of Baby Jesus. Then I would wake up very early and run to the entrance of the house to see that The Three Wise Men left me a present.'
Mom: 'The day before The Three Kings arrive, me and my sisters would go outside and pick some grass to put it inside a shoe box for the camels to eat. The shoe box would be placed under the Christmas tree. The next day my sisters and I would wake and run to the Christmas tree to see what The Three Kings left for us. Later during the day my family and I would settle down and get together to share a nice, typical Christmas lunch.'
Titi: 'The day before the Reyes Magos came, I put grass inside a shoebox and left it under the Christmas tree and left some outside. I also gave shoebox to Abu. Then we would run downstairs to open the presents and celebrate with the whole family'.
|
