World

World Celebrates Three Kings Day/Dia De Los Reyes

by Jon Azpiri | January 6, 2009 at 09:32 am

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On January 6, much of the Spanish-speaking world will be celebrating the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day or Dia de los Reyes.

So what is the Epiphany and/or Three Kings Day all about? Put simply, it's the 12th Day of Christmas, just like the old Christmas carol says. But Christians celebrate the day for slightly different reasons. For some, the day marks the Feast of the Epiphany where God revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. For others, it marks visit by the Three Wise Men to see baby Jesus.

For many Catholics, especially in the Latin America, Three Kings Day is as significant if not more significant than Christmas. Children open their gifts on Dia de los Reyes rather than on Christmas Day.

In New York, 32nd Annual Three Kings Day Parade will take place.

Just like Christmas, there are those who are concerned that Dia de los Reyes is too commercialized. The holiday is so big among Hispanic-Americans that some Wal-Marts are having Three Kings Day promotions featuring in-store appearances by the Three Kings.

Children came out to meet the Three Kings and have their picture taken at stores around the San Gabriel Valley, including the Baldwin Park store on Saturday and the Rosemead store on Sunday

Other businessses that appeal to Latino customers also see Three Kings Day as a way to extend the Christmas shopping season.

"It used to be that after Christmas, everything was pretty much dead," says Ignacio Hernandez, CEO of MexGrocer.com, which began offering the traditional Rosca de Reyes (King's cake) five years ago. "Now it's still busy."

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rudi.verago

at 13:09 on January 6th, 2009

Photo from a little village near Venice, Italy.

rudi.verago has contributed a photo to this story.

Klearchos Kapoutsis

at 10:33 on January 6th, 2009

Photos from the Epiphany celebrations in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria by Klearchos Kapoutsis from Flickr.

Tanya y Timo

at 10:45 on January 6th, 2009

Zoe and Mama Tanya gave the Royal Messenger their wishes and Zoe got a dolly. The Three Kings brought everyone gifts, including Daddy Timo.

Tanya y Timo has contributed a photo to this story.

j_mf

at 10:56 on January 6th, 2009

Every year in Germany around Three Kings Day, groups of children dressed as the Three Kings go from door to door singing and asking for a small donation for a specific church charity. After that they write a small blessing with chalk on the house's door.

j_mf has contributed a photo to this story.

ressydm

at 11:38 on January 6th, 2009

Thank you writer, for finding me and my photos over on flickr! I had posted the Three Kings Parade (32nd Annual) that was held in what is called El Barrio, Spanish Harlem (now East Harlem) by East 106 Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, New York City. We had REAL camels (three) and about five real sheep too!

My parents told me of how it was celebrated back in Puerto Rico -- hay was placed in one's shoes, left outside the door, to await special gifts from the Three Kings...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ressydm/