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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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