A word of thanks to New Hope from Pastor Adriana Johnson-Rivas of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Holiday Gift Card Fundraiser – 2022:
(New Hope,) I want to wish your whole church family a happy year. In the same way I am sending you the photos of the celebration of the three wise men ( Tres Reyes magos) where the gift cards were given and some presents to the children. Thank you very much and God bless you always for such a generous action. All the children and young people were very happy!!!!!
In the English-speaking world, the Christmas and holiday season tends to end with the celebration of New Year’s Day. However, for those in Spanish-speaking countries, the holiday festivities extend all the way to today – January 6th! Christians celebrate this day as the Epiphany – the day the three wise men found the newborn Jesus Christ after following a star through the desert for 12 days after his birth. While this day isn’t quite as important for English-speaking Christians, for those in Spain and Latin America it is a very important date marked with celebrations.
Just as with Christmas, there is a heavy emphasis on gift-giving on Three Kings Day. Children all over the Spanish-speaking world leave their shoes by the door of their homes the night before Three Kings Day so that the kings will come and leave them presents. In the same way as families leave milk and cookies for Santa Claus, families will often leave salt and grass alongside the shoes – these are meant for the camels that the three kings are said to ride on. 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. It is said that if you are the one who ends up with the baby Jesus doll on Three Kings Day, you’re obligated to host a party for the subsequent holiday Dia de la Condelaria (Candlemas Day), which occurs on February 2nd!
