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“Aye Jesus!” and “Dios mío!” are some things you can expect to hear at many Mexican households every January 6. These and other “Oh my Lord” expressions are part of the fun of Día de los Reyes, which is celebrated by eating an oval, crown-shaped wreath of sweet egg bread with a small plastic baby Jesus (sometimes ceramic) baked inside. The bread, called Rosca de Reyes, is sprinkled with sugar and decorated with slices of dry fruit and filled with nuts and figs.
Rosca is literally “thread” in Spanish and a name given to ring-shaped breads (like Pan de Muerto, the bread eaten on the Day of the Dead) that were used by the Spanish nuns to help spread the gospel throughout Latin America. Today they can be found at panederias, or bakeries, throughout the Valley. The fruit-laden cake is served along with hot chocolate and is called the Merienda de Reyes, or snack of kings — in honor of the Magi — the three wise men who brought gifts to the infant Jesus.
The light meal is a representation of the union of indigenous and European cultures that brought bread making to Mexico (cocoa is indigenous to Mexico). The bread is sliced by each guest and inspected carefully for the plastic Jesusito. This knife-to-bread-to-maybe-baby-Jesus symbolizes the danger the Christ child was in from the up-to-no-good King Herod.
The lucky person, or “Godparent,” is obliged to present the Jesusito at a nearby church and to host a tamale fest called a Candeleria or Candlemas on February 2. That’s when the Nativity scene is put away — but not before the larger baby Jesus is given a new ropón, or christening gown. The tamales are washed down with traditional winter beverages like atole (a thick corn-based favorite), champurrado (atole with grated Mexican chocolate), chocolate milk or more hot chocolate.
Also known as the Epiphany, January 6 is the day Mexican kids traditionally received their gifts when they would leave hay-filled shoes outside on the eve of January 5 to appease the Magi and fill the bellies of their hungry camels in hopes of receiving their own gifts.
Like most traditions, accounts vary. Just do the kids a favor and don’t fill the shoes with frankincense and myrrh.
