Day Of The Kings

Gift giving in Mexico isn’t on Christmas Day as we traditionally have in the United States but on January 6th - The Day of the Kings. The evening before, friends meet for a meal which includes a sweet bread in the shape of a crown decorated with nuts and fruit. The traditional drink for this sweet bread is a steaming cup of hot chocolate. In the evening children put out their shoes in hopes that the “Kings” will visit and leave gifts. This of course depends on whether they have been good over the last year.

This week we were invited by our neighbors to join them for a Friday evening celebration of Day of the Kings. While going into completely new situations isn’t easy, we took the opportunity as from the Lord and one reason we are here in the first place. It turned out to be a wonderful evening. We practiced our Spanish and they their English. One of the traditions of this holiday is the “finding” of the baby Jesus. Each person is responsible for cutting their own piece of sweet bread and if the plastic baby is in your piece you are responsible for having a tamale dinner for the group on February 2nd. Diana was the recipient of that distinguished honor. So come Ground Hog’s Day we will be serving tamales if any of you want to join us.

Speaking of holidays, I’m telling you, Mexicans loooooove late night celebrations for holidays. Most holidays are celebrated late into and through the night, the evening before the actual day. Christmas dinner for example is served around midnight on the 24th. Independence Day begins at midnight with the traditional “shout”. The Day of Guadelupe lasts through the night. All are accompanied by plenty of loud music, explosions and tasty food.

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” Isaiah 12:4-5