Samo students celebrate the three kings tradition
Camille De BeusStaff WriterMany of us get lost in the post-holiday depression that ensues after the Christmas madness. It's hard not to feel like a deflated balloon after the holidays end. But for some, there are still things to look forward to after Christmas, like the Three Kings Tradition, which celebrates the last of the twelve days of Christmas.The tradition takes place on Jan. 5, which usually falls on the first Saturday of the month. It commemorates the three kings or wise men, Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior that brought gifts to baby Jesus. This tradition is based on the gospel according to Matthew.In the gospel, Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior discovered the star that, according to the religious beliefs of the time, announced the birth of the new king of the world. They traveled from Persia to Bethlehem to deliver their presents of gold, myrrh and frankincense to Jesus.According to Spanish teacher Claudia Bautista-Nicholas, each Latin American country has different ways of celebrating the day. In Argentina, for example, children stuff their shoes with hay and leave them outside the door for the three kings' camels. The camels then come, eat the hay and they and the kings leave a toy or treat for the children to find the next morning in their shoes.People generally have the celebration in the evening on Jan. 6. Typically, families gather for a big dinner and dessert. Jessica Bonilla ('15) celebrates Three Kings Day differently than Argentinians."The way that my family and I celebrate it, is that we gather together, and make tamales, enchiladas and a whole bunch of other food," Bonilla said. "Then we talk about what we're grateful for. After that, the parents give kids gifts, just like the kings gave [baby Jesus] gifts."Bonilla describes the Three Kings Tradition as a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas."It reminds me of how grateful I am about what I have, “ Bonilla said. "To have loving parents as well as a day to day life."One of the most important and defining parts of Three Kings Day is the dessert."Rosca de los Reyes is a garland shaped sweet bread that has small plastic baby Jesus toys baked in it," Bautista-Nicholas said. "If one gets a toy in the piece they were given, the person has to have a party on Feb. 2 and make tamales for the family."The Three Kings tradition is an old one, but a loved one. No matter how it is celebrated, it is obvious that it really brings the family together after Christmas.