Yesterday, El Día de Reyes (aka, Three Kings Day and Epiphany) was celebrated all over Oaxaca (and the rest of the Hispanic world). Letters having been written, children went to bed on January 5th in anticipation…
of a visit by los Reyes Magos; though, something tells me they didn’t ask for gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If these Three Kings are truly wise, they visited the toy department of a local store.
Yesterday morning, children awoke to find their very own gifts from the Magi. However, the day’s excitement didn’t end there. Rosca de Reyes, a wreath of sweet bread had been made or purchased.
This innocent looking dessert has a secret; a tiny plastic “bebé Jesús.” Family and friends take turns with a knife, each slicing their own piece, and the one who finds the figurine must host a tamale party on February 2, Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), for all those gathered.
However, Laura (my Spanish teacher) and her friend Manuel, just couldn’t leave it at that. Last night, one by one, guests cut into the above cake and, lo and behold, we all bit into a baby Jesus. Needless to say, there was much joking about fertility drugs! It should be some tamale fiesta on February 2nd.
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