Rosca de Reyes

What, you ask, is Rosca de Reyes? Let me show you, as I am now an expert. In many European and Latin American countries, 3 Kings Day is celebrated on January 6. Traditionally, 12 days after Christmas, the Wise Men (las Reyes) came to worship the baby Jesus. In Mexico, the celebration involves a special bread (la Rosca) with little dolls baked inside. They are supposed to symbolize the baby Jesus, but they kind of look like white aliens with big heads. Whoever gets the baby doll gets to host the next party on Candlemas (Feb. 2). So what is Dia de Reyes? An excuse for a Casita party, with another excuse for a party baked right in! Sweet.

Virginia and Diana were practically dared to have a 3 Kings Day party by a guy in their ward. Never ones to back down from a dare or back away from a party, we took a week to get the people together, and celebrated our first Dia de Reyes on Jan.13th.

In many countries, children leave out their shoes with grass or treats for the camels, and the "wise men" leave the children presents. We did NOT want any stinky shoes left out, so we opted for white elephant instead. Notice Scott laughing his head off at a light up plastic cup. It's probably because he brought the whitest elephant of all: spikes to keep birds off a roof (like you see in the "O" of BigLots), cleverly wrapped in a heater box. Glad I didn't get that one.

So, to recap: bread on Jan 6 = tamales on Feb 2. Wise men always welcome at the Casita. Gifts. What's not to love about Dia de Reyes?