From all of us at FH Hispania, Feliz Navidad!!! And keep the season’s spirit alive.
For many Hispanics, Christmas may have passed but the Holidays are not over yet. While the tradition of the Epiphany (better known as the visit of the Reyes Magos or Three Wise Men) is not widely observed in the U.S., it is very much alive in Puerto Rico, Mexico and other parts of Latin America. The tradition is observed on the eve of January 6th and many kids wait patiently for gifts that will be left under the bed or next to the Pesebre.
The Reyes Magos don’t eat cookies and milk, though it wouldn’t surprise me that many families leave out a sample of Santa’s favorite snack for them… They are more concerned about feeding their camels or horses. Growing up in Puerto Rico, we collected grass, put it on a shoe box and hoped the camels would find it and in turn a place for our gifts. Monica mentioned that in her family in Mexico they used to put a shoe out by the tree in Christmas and for los Reyes. Santa would bring her and her sisters clothes and the Reyes Magos would bring toys.
The holiday has its own traditional food too– the ’rosca de reyes’– which is favored in Mexico and Latin America. And I don’t know if it was just another excuse to eat pork, but lechon seemed to be the fare of choice for the Fiestas de los Reyes in Puerto Rico.
It is good to see that some retailers and U.S. brands are embracing the holiday and reflecting the interests of the Latino consumers by doing so. For example, some Wal-Marts around the nation will have los Reyes visit stores post Dec. 26th to take pictures with kids. And as the sensitivity to the revered Hispanic tradition spreads, it will not surprise me that the Holiday season can extend into early January same as it does in many Latino homes around the world.
SUBSCRIBE