Sunday, January 6, 2008

El Dia De Reyes

We started a new tradition this year. To remember our Latino heritage, we have decided to start celebrating El Dia De Reyes or Three Kings Day.
On January 6, most of the Hispanic world celebrates El Dia De Reyes, the Epiphany, remembering the day when the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem, arrived bearing their treasured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus. It is the 12th and last day of Christmas.
On the night, of January 5, the figurines of the Three Wise Men are added to the nativity scene. Before going to bed the children place their shoes under their bed or in the living room, where the Wise Men will leave them their presents. Some also place outside the house, some hay and a bucket with water for the camels, and even some cookies and milk for Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar.
Relunctantly the children go off to bed. As soon as they wake up, they run to see the gifts the the Three Magi left for them.
(Celeste and Sophia thought if they put out their biggest shoes (their snowboots) maybe the wiseman would put more inside.)

(Straw left from the camels' midnight snack.)

HAPPY THREE KINGS DAY!!!

1 comment:

chelsea said...

We celebrate St. Nicklaus day on Dec. 6 where we leave shoes out for St. Nicklaus to fill. I'm pleased your girls learned early about putting out your biggest pair of shoes. I don't remember if it ever worked though!