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January 6, Día de Reyes (Three Wise Men)
By Claudia Annoni, La Prensa
Día de Reyes is an important celebration in many Latin-American countries or territories such as Puerto Rico—this is when the Three Wise Men following the star of Bethlehem visited Baby Jesus and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
In northern Ohio, it will be celebrated on January 6 in Cleveland and on January 7 in Toledo and Lorain.
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• In Toledo it will be hosted by Club Taino and held at L’Ambiance Banquet Hall (5237 Renwyck Dr.) with dinner at 6PM and music by Sammy De León Orchestra. [Call María González for details, 419-385-1150; tickets in advance are $25];
• In Lorain, it will be held at the Puerto Rican Home, 1603 E. 28th St., starting at 7PM, with dancing and play by Esencia Boricua Cultural de Lorain. This event is free and open to the public. Contact info: 440-277-9413.
• In Cleveland, the City of Cleveland, Hispanic UMADAOP, Esperanza Inc., and others host its annual “Fiesta de Reyes” event on January 6, from 6PM to 9PM, at 3115 Scranton Road; call 216-664-6248 to register your children (ages 1-14 years old).
Traditionally, days before the festivity, the children write a letter to the Reyes (Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar) asking for presents they would like to receive. On January 5th, before they go to sleep they place their shoes, grass, and water. The shoes identify to whom the presents belong. The grass and the water are left for the Wise Men’s camels. In the morning of January 6th, the children open their presents upon awakening.
The tradition includes the rosca de reyes, which would compare to a coffee cake, and it is generally accompanied with coffee or hot chocolate. The rosca has 5 or 6 little plastic dolls inside, and they symbolized good luck to those that find them.
Happy Día de Reyes!
6 de Enero, Día de Reyes
Por Claudia Annoni, La Prensa
En los países latinos el Día de Reyes es una celebración muy importante que se festeja el 6 de Enero. Es la jornada en que los Tres Reyes Magos, siguiendo la estrella de Belén, llegaron a ofrecer al niño Jesús sus ofrendas de oro, incienso, y mirra.
Días previos al festejo, los niños escriben cartas a los Reyes, Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar pidiendo los regalos que les gustaría recibir. El 5 de Enero, antes de irse a dormir los niños colocan sus zapatos, pasto y agua. Los zapatos indican a quien pertenecen los obsequios y el pasto y el agua son para alimentar a los camellos, ya que así es como se transportaban los Reyes en la leyenda. Por la mañana del 6 de Enero, los niños van al encuentro y abren sus regalos.
También, la tradición incluye la rosca de reyes, que es una confección dulce que se acompaña generalmente con café o con chocolate caliente y que se cocina con 5 o 6 muñequitos de plástico adentro. Estos muñequitos significan buena suerte para quien los encuentran.
¡Feliz Día de Reyes!
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