From January 4-6, 2013, Disneyland Resort will be celebrating the Latin American holiday “Dia de los Reyes Magos”, or Three Kings day.
In case you lack familiarity with the holiday, Disney describes it thusly:
“Dia de Reyes, also known as Three Kings Day, is a festive holiday celebrated on January 6. From generation to generation, the people of Spain, Mexico, Central America, and Puerto Rico have enjoyed a rich cultural tradition of celebrating this popular holiday. Iconic symbols, time-honored traditions, scenic displays and children’s activities play an important part in this festive occasion within the Hispanic cultures.”
“According to tradition, the Three Kings or los Reyes Magos (Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar) traveled by camel to follow the star of Bethlehem, bringing precious gifts with them. In many Latin American countries, children leave their shoes outside and fill them with hay for the animals, hoping to find surprises and gifts the next day from the Three Kings. Rosca de Reyes (Kings Cake) is a crown-shaped, lightly sweetened bread decorated with jewel-like candied fruit and is a traditional Three Kings Day holiday treat.”
Children’s activities will be ongoing, with bilingual hosts participating in face-painting, coloring, and crown decorating, all taking place in the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.
Live entertainment will be presented, including the Mariachi Divas and a variety of local folklorico ballet troupes and musicians.
Opportunities will be presented for guests to meet and greet Mickey and Minnie in “Fiesta” costumes, as well as The Three Caballeros, Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Panchito.
AllEars’ own Laura Gilbreath was on hand to chat with Claudia Erdogan and Andrae Gill from Global Marketing about a variety of topics, including the Three Kings celebration and the year-long Limited Time Magic campaign.
She also spoke with Chef Martha who made one of the Buñuelo desserts that will be served at Rancho del Zocalo, and spoke about the other special holiday food offerings. (Laura tried it afterward and said it was delicious.)
So if you’re interested in celebrating this holiday with the Three Kings and the Three Caballeros, come on down to the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland this weekend–Limited Time Magic only!
Related Links:
— Disneyland Announces Three Kings Weekend Celebration
— Why Walt Disney World Should Adapt Disneyland’s Three Kings Celebration
— Los Tres Reyes Mexican Storytellers in Epcot at Walt Disney World
The Latin American countries most likely began celebrating after the Spanish came to South America and the western US. Prior to that all Catholic European countries celebrated the feast day. In fact, the Byzantine churches and the Orthodox churches celebrate the day as Little Christmas with the giving of gifts. In the Catholic Church today, the Nativity and Christmas decorations are kept up until after the feast of The Three Kings or The Epiphany, which means the revealing. We bless our homes on this day by burning frankincense and using holy water in each room. Over the doorways we write 20 + C+M+B+13. This represents the year and the first initial of each of the kings with a cross between. I wish Disney would bring the celebration to Epcot.
Jeanine: Thanks for all the great information on the holiday! Hopefully if they continue to celebrate it in the parks, they’ll increase the educational aspects of their presentation on it.