Three Kings Day

Three Kings Day, 2020

 Usually my family gathers for a large holiday party on this day, but the pandemic has changed that tradition.  January 6th is celebrated across the globe as Epiphany or Three Kings Day.  This tradition is forgotten in the United States, but a favorite holiday in most Spanish speaking countries. In Spain and other countries, the children don't receive gifts from Santa, but they receive gifts from "Los Reyes Magos" on the night before January 6th.  

It is rather fun to wait twelve days to celebrate a family reunion after Christmas.  Twelve days later, at least here in the USA, I'm beginning to miss the holiday spirit. And the dreary January weather in New England makes life seem so dull.  And all the after Christmas sales offer gifts at big discounts. It's the perfect time for a family party.    

This tradition in the Wilkinson family started many years ago when my daughter was very small.  My husband's family is from Spain, we celebrated this holiday in a small way with gifts from the kings and a tiny "Roscon de Reyes" (Three Kings Cake).  My cousin had married a woman from Mexico, and they were celebrating the holiday, too.   Our Dads (two Wilkinson brothers) had birthdays near this holiday.  My father was born on January 3rd, and his brother was a New Year Baby born on January 1st, 1927.  Our first few Three Kings parties were celebrated with Spanish traditions and a birthday celebration.  

Three Kings Day, 1990

Roscon de Reyes - Kings Cake

The Birthday Boys blow out candles
on their birthday/King cake
Jack and Robert, 2002

And so in 2020 I suppose we all will be celebrating Three Kings Day safely while sheltering at home. Children all over Spain will watch the Kings arrive in Madrid safely distanced on TV instead of attending a parade, and still put out their shoes or a box for their gifts, with a glass of wine for the magi.  In Mexico and all over Latin America children will be checking for their gifts near the nativity, eating tamales, and looking for a tiny baby in their King Cake.  It will be different, but the tradition lives on!

Happy Three Kings Day!  A peaceful Epiphany!  Felices Dia De Los Reyes!

My daughter with one of the Three Kings,
at a Madrid department store 1998

For the truly curious:

A video of the 2014 Cabalgata de Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings Arrive in Madrid, Spain):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKhsjj58Cv4    

A recipe for roscón de reyes (Three Kings cake):   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/12/advent-calendar-three-kings-bread.html

My 2017 Three Kings Day post:

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/01/three-kings-day-epiphany-little.html  

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To Link or Cite this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Three Kings Day", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 6, 2021, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2021/01/three-kings-day.html: accessed [access date]).