Three Kings Day

Saturday, December 25, 2010

PARA QUE LO SEPAS !
WHY DO LATINOS CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS UNTIL JANUARY 6TH ?





By: Harry Irizarry
Chicago Field Office

If you are asking yourself why your Latino neighbors do not take down their Christmas trees until after January 6th, here is the explanation. In Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba and several other Latin American countries, Epiphany Day is called "El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos" - The day of the Three Kings. The Three Kings, Melchor from Europe, Caspar from Arabia and Balthazar from Africa rode on their respective beasts of burden to visit the infant Jesus. They arrived bearing gifts;  Melchor brought gold, Caspar brought frankincense and Balthazar brought myrrh. In Puerto Rico, children leave food ( grass or hay in a box ) for the Kings' beasts of burden in the hope that the Three Kings will be more generous with their gifts during the early hours of January 6th.

Now you know why some Latinos keep their Christmas trees up and lights blinking until after January 6th when your pine tree is already history !!!!!!!

!!!!!! Para que lo Sepas !!!!!!