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The Tradition of the Gifts
Few experiences in life can compare to the image of a child's eager anticipation of the presents, which await him or her on the evening of January 5th, according to the tradition of the three Wise Men and the Baby Jesus. Up until the middle of the 19th century, however, the Three Kings were never described as bearers of gifts for children. Beginning around that time, the gifts that began to appear were restricted simply to the necessities of daily life: Caspar offered sweets, curds, honey or dried fruit; Melchior's offering was more practical, and included clothes and shoes; while Balthazar was charged with the task of punishing those boys and girls who misbehaved during the year, giving them coal, spankings or rocks (in reality made with sugar). The tradition of gifts remains very popular in Spain, Mexico, Paraguay and in certain areas of the Dominican Republic.
The Legend
To accomplish the enormous task of distributing the gifts to the children, the Three Kings rely on the help of little elves who notify the Kings on how the children are behaving. On the evening of January 5, children must leave their clean shoes on the balcony window, together with water, a piece of fruit and a bit of hay, upon which the Kings and their camels might rest. The legend tells of two friends of Jesus Child who, when they saw how poor and shoeless He was, decided to give him their shoes. They washed them and placed them on the balcony window to dry. The next morning, they were very surprised to find that their shoes were overflowing with presents left by the Three Kings as a reward for their kindness.
Letters to The Three Wise Men
The tradition of writing letters to the Three Kings and asking for gifts began around the first quarter of the 19th century. Originally, the letters were left on the window next to the shoes. Later, they began to find their way through the mail. It is now possible to send e-mails, as the Three Kings of the East have become accomplished cybernauts.
The Procession
In recent years, the custom of ringing in the 5th of January with a procession of the Three Kings with their pages and royal retinue through towns and cities has grown steadily in Spain. Children and adults can then welcome them in exchange for candy. On the coast, their Majesties arrive by boat.
The Cake of The Three Wise Men
While the children enjoy their presents, the adults prepare the meal of the Kings to be shared with friends and family, whose main dish is the ring-shaped Cake of the Kings, or Roscón, which doubles as dessert after the meal. This sweet dish originated in the Slavic countries and is made with flour, sugar, butter, candied fruit and, in recent years, has been filled with cream or mocha. There is always a small plastic figurine hidden inside. Whoever finds it is required to treat the other guests to dinner or pay for the cake. Originally, this figurine was in the form of a bean that bestowed upon its finder the temporary title of king of the party. In Mexico, this sweet dish is known as the Cake of the Kings, or Rosca de Reyes, inside of which is a small Baby Jesus. This gesture symbolizes the need to find a secure birthplace for the Baby to save Him from King Herod and his persecution of children.
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