 | | | | Long Live Tradition! | Three Kings Day, or Día de los Santos Reyes, marks the day that the Three Kings came to visit baby Jesus, bearing gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In Mexico, the holiday is filled with wonderful traditions.
Children hide their shoes under the Christmas tree or by the nativity scene only to find them filled with presents the next morning. Tiny dolls, signifying baby Jesus, are baked into sweet rounds of bread and shared by the whole family. But, by far, our favorite ritual is the annual boating event held in Cajititlan de Los Reyes near Guadalajara.
Picture this scene — the morning of January 6, large statues of the Three Kings, paraded from the church through the streets of Cajititlan, accompanied by vibrant dancers and musicians, children in costume, prancing horses, and a sea of believers and happy revelers.
When the Three Kings reach the shore of the lake, each is loaded into his own motorboat and the race begins. The Three Kings and their entourage circle the lake as the crowds onshore cheer on their favorite.
We take every opportunity to celebrate cultural traditions, to help keep stories alive, and honor the past as part of the present. On this Three Kings Day, we turn a spotlight on our incredible Mexican artisans and the wonderful works they bring to the world. | | | | |
