What is the story behind Three Kings Day?
Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes), also known as the Epiphany, is a Christian celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ child. This marks the official 12th day of Christmas.
Is Three Kings Day biblical?
6th. For many Christians, the holiday season doesn’t officially end until the 12th day of Christmas known as the “Feast of the Epiphany” or “Three Kings’ Day”. The holiday marks the biblical adoration of baby Jesus by the three Kings, also referred to as three Wise Men or Magi.
What did the three kings do?
Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.
Is Three Kings Day a Catholic tradition?
Epiphany is observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Christians of other Western traditions. Eastern traditions that follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar celebrate Epiphany on January 19, since their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.
Which countries celebrate Three Kings Day?
From Spain and France to Chile and Mexico, millions of people celebrate the three Kings Day with a variety of traditions, rituals and symbols, marking the end of the “12 Days of Christmas.” Across Latin America and Europe this day will be filled with festivities, parades, dancing, costumes, and floats some of which …
What do they eat on Three Kings Day?
Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread): Rosca de Reyes is a traditional holiday bread made especially for Three Kings’ Day. The bread is round in shape as a symbol of a king’s crown. Baked within the folds of bread is a clay or porcelain baby Jesus figurine.
How long does 3 Kings Day last?
Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on 6th January (or January 19th for some Orthodox Church who have Christmas on 7th January) and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus.
What is the traditional dessert eaten on Three Kings Day?
Rosca de Reyes
What is the difference between Three Kings Day and Christmas?
El Día de Reyes is celebrating the three kings that visited baby Jesus while Christmas is celebrating the birth of baby Jesus.
What is the Three Kings Cake?
The round shape of the cake represents the circular route taken by the Three Kings to confuse King Herod, who was following them to find the Christ child. A small figurine symbolizing the baby Jesus, small coin or bean is baked into the King Cake.
Who is the baby in a King Cake?
The “Zulu King Cake” has chocolate icing with a coconut filling. Traditionally, a small porcelain baby, symbolizing Jesus, is hidden in the king cake and is a way for residents of New Orleans to celebrate their Christian faith. The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it.
Is King Cake a Catholic tradition?
What is king cake? A sweet, circular pastry, cake, or bread that is the centerpiece of a historically Catholic celebration known as Epiphany, which falls on January 6. Today it takes on many different forms and is found at a variety of similar celebrations with religious origins.
What do the King Cake colors mean?
The king cake is a mixture of a French pastry and a coffee cake. Its oval shape and festive colors give it a unique appeal. The original version features the royal colors of gold, purple, and green. Gold represents power, purple represents justice, and green signifies faith.
What is the meaning of the King Cake baby?
When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity, and the finder becomes the ‘king’ or ‘queen’ of the evening.
What is the Mexican tradition when someone finds the baby in their piece of cake?
According to Mexican tradition, the Epiphany is celebrated with rosca de reyes, a ringed cake with a baby figurine baked into the batter, topped with fruit in the colors of the Mexican flag. Tradition dictates that whoever finds the baby must bring tamales to the Feb. 6 with cake.
Can you bake a plastic baby in a King Cake?
Let the cake cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer the cake onto a wire cooling rack. Let it cool completely to room temperature. If using a plastic figurine, gently push it into the underside of the cake so that it’s hidden.
What day do you eat King Cake 2021?
January 6
Why do we only eat king cake between January 6th and Fat Tuesday?
King Cake “season” officially starts on January 6, when Christians celebrate Epiphany, which honors the Three Wise Men (or Kings) who traveled far to see baby Jesus. People held parties to eat their King Cakes in celebration of the Three Kings and to enjoy one last treat before Lent started after Fat Tuesday.
What does a king cake taste like?
What king-cake-flavored treats most often have in common are two flavors — cinnamon and vanilla. Running a close third is cream cheese. It’s true that these days, cinnamon roll king cakes are considered traditional, but cinnamon was not always synonymous with New Orleans-style king cakes.
When should you eat a king cake?
When do you eat king cake? King cake is indeed a heavenly treat for New Orleanians when it appears in supermarkets and bakeries between early January and Ash Wednesday. Some bakeries across the city begin selling as early as December, but always at the start of Carnival – January 6.
Is eating King Cake after Fat Tuesday Bad luck?
It’s a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Tradition in some parts holds that whomever gets the baby in their slice of King Cake gives the next King Cake party.
Why do we eat King Cake?
King Cakes are oval-shaped to symbolize the unity of faiths. Each cake is decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors – purple representing justice, green representing faith, and gold representing power. A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is traditionally hidden inside each King Cake.
How long does a king cake last?
A King Cake will stay fresh longer if refrigerated. It can be kept in a refrigerator for up to a week and can even be frozen for up to 3 months! Before serving simply remove it from the plastic bag and serve at room temperature.
Do you heat up King Cake?
If you have such discriminating taste and demand to eat a king cake like it’s warm and just out of the oven, then cut your slice of king cake, place it on a napkin and put it in a microwave oven for 10 seconds. (Always be extremely careful with the icing. The king cake dough should be warm and tender.
How much do king cakes cost?
Traditional plain king cakes cost $6.99 for a small, $11.99 for a medium and $16.99 for a large. Traditional filled king cakes cost $8.99 for a small, $14.99 for a medium and $20.99 for a large. King cake is also available for purchase by the slice.
Are there nuts in King Cake?
We are not a nut-free facility. Our traditional (non-filled) King Cakes do not have nuts in them. However, they are prepared around other products that have nuts, so contact with nuts or a product containing nuts is possible.
Do king cakes need to be refrigerated?
Yes. A King Cake will stay fresh longer if refrigerated. Typically, a cake will keep on the counter 2-3 days and 5-6 days in the fridge. …