House 14 - Morgan Family Shares Three Kings Tradition
The Morgan family celebrates this holiday and told us that it commemorates the arrival of the magi (or kings) at the manger where Jesus was born on the twelfth day after Christmas. It is mostly celebrated in Latin American countries and some countries in Europe. We heard the story of how Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar followed a star to find the baby and they brought him gifts that were very valuable at the time, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (We got to smell the frankincense and myrrh.) There are also parades to celebrate the holiday where people dress up as kings or carry beautiful paper mache sculptures.
Pilar '28, Steve, and Arlene had capes and crowns on to show us! Then Arlene told us that music is a very important part of this cultural celebration, so the children created their own parade with maracas! After the parade, Arlene showed us the special bread that is eaten on the holiday, called Rosca de Reyes (literally translated as King's Ring). We cut it up and the children got to taste it along with coconut macaroons, another traditional treat.
Story Submitted by: Deborah Reilly, Kindergarten House Advisor