Three Kings Day (Los Reyes)
Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th, twelve days after Christmas.
It is often viewed as the last day of the Christmas season.
This holiday is celebrated in most Spanish speaking countries, including Spain . Also known as the Epiphany, The Three Kings Day is a Christian celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.
According to the Biblical story, the Three Kings presented the Baby Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Hispanics have kept this tradition of gift giving throughout the years. While most other countries receive their gifts from Santa on Christmas, many Spanish families receive their gifts on The Three Kings Day from the three wise men.
In some regions of Spain , it is customary for children to leave their shoes out on the night of January 5 th, filling them with hay for the camels who carry the kings, hoping that the kings will be generous in their gift giving.
Another tradition is for families to gather together and share the Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with pieces of orange and lime. Usually, hot chocolate is served with this bread.
This is a very special holiday in Spain that has held traditions for several years.
