Rosca de Reyes

This is a Christian custom, and history tells of the three Kings Magos who left to go adore the Baby Jesus. And as Marco Polo recounts in his book The Million: "the three Kings of the region" went on a trip to adore a born prophet and to take three offerings to him: Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh. If the prophet took gold, he would be a king of land; if he took the incense he was a God; if he took myrrh, he was to be a doctor.

Their names: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar, three Kings Magos adorned with dressed in striking costumes who left East and now with over the years are part of the celebrations of december. Loaded with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, specially for the boy, and according to some passages of Bible, each one of these gifts hold a very special meaning.

In Mexico, the representation of the Nativity Scene is incorporated to Rosca de Reyes, in where the bread can have one or several "baby boys" inside, and therefore hidden. This represents that the boy had to be hidden and protected during Biblical times pertaining to the passage of the "Day of the innocents", which tells that in the times of Herodes, when finding out that the King had been born of Kings, in a humble stable, he ordered to kill all children younger than three years of age to avoid being overthrown. Originally, the figure was done of ceramic porcelain; at the moment, it is made of heat resistant plastic.

As in Mexico Rosca de Reyes can have one or several dolls, representing Baby Jesus. It is tradition that the one who finds the Baby Jesus in the bread has the obligation to buy corn tamales (the pre-Hispanic food of excellence) and chocolate, "the food of the Gods" for the celebration of the Day of the Candlemas, celebrated the 2nd of February.

The celebration of the "Partida de la Rosca" is a party to reunite families and friends where can not miss a rich and sparkling chocolate to accompany it.

The 6th day of January, the Catholic Church celebrates the Epifanía commemoration of the manifestation of the Gentleman a los gentiles.