Three Kings’ Day: A Magical Celebration for Families with Young Children
The holiday season doesn’t end after New Year’s Day for many families around the world. Instead, it continues with Three Kings’ Day—also known as El Día de los Reyes Magos—a cherished tradition that celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men who visited baby Jesus. This joyful holiday, observed on January 6, is filled with family gatherings, storytelling, parades, and delicious treats. It’s also an opportunity for children to experience the magic of the season one last time before saying goodbye to the holidays.
At Language Kids World, we believe in embracing cultural traditions that bring families closer together and foster global awareness. Here’s everything you need to know about Three Kings’ Day and how to celebrate it with your little ones in a fun and meaningful way.
What Is Three Kings’ Day?
Three Kings’ Day commemorates the journey of the Wise Men—Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar—who followed the Star of Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. While its origins are religious, the modern celebration has evolved into a cultural holiday filled with festive customs, particularly in Spain, Latin America, and other parts of the world.
For children, the day is often as exciting as Christmas, as it involves special treats, traditions, and even gifts brought by the Three Kings!
Key Traditions of Three Kings’ Day
- Letters to the Three Kings
Just as children write letters to Santa Claus, many kids in Spain and Latin America send letters to the Three Wise Men, sharing their wishes and good deeds from the past year.
How Families Can Celebrate:
- Encourage your children to write or draw their wishes in a letter to the Three Kings.
- Have them include a “thank you” message for the joys of the past year, teaching gratitude.
- Add a fun twist by using glitter pens or star-shaped stickers to decorate the letters.
- Shoes by the Door
On the night of January 5, children leave their shoes by the door, window, or under the Christmas tree, hoping the Three Kings will fill them with gifts. Some families also leave grass, hay, or water for the camels that carried the Wise Men on their journey.
How Families Can Celebrate:
- Let your children clean and polish their shoes to make them “ready” for the Kings.
- Place a small bowl of water and pretend grass (cut-up green paper works well) as an offering for the camels.
- Add small surprises to the shoes overnight, such as toys, books, or candies.
- Parades and Community Celebrations
In many countries, January 5 is marked with vibrant parades featuring floats, music, and performers dressed as the Three Kings. These parades, known as Cabalgatas, often include candy thrown to excited children.
How Families Can Celebrate:
- Create a mini-parade at home with your kids. Use costumes, hats, and props to represent the Three Kings.
- Play music, march through your living room, and toss wrapped candies or small trinkets.
- Watch videos of real-life Cabalgatas online to introduce children to this lively tradition.
- The Rosca de Reyes (King’s Cake)
A highlight of Three Kings’ Day is sharing the Rosca de Reyes, or King’s Cake. This sweet bread, often shaped like a wreath, is decorated with colorful candied fruits to represent the jewels on the kings’ crowns. Hidden inside the cake is a small figurine of baby Jesus, and whoever finds it is believed to have good luck and is tasked with hosting a celebration on Candlemas Day (February 2).
How Families Can Celebrate:
- Bake or buy a King’s Cake and enjoy it as a family. Let your children help decorate it with candied fruits or frosting.
- If making your own, hide a small figurine or almond inside the cake.
- Make it a game by encouraging everyone to guess where the surprise might be!
Global Variations of Three Kings’ Day
Different countries celebrate Three Kings’ Day with unique customs, offering a rich opportunity to teach children about cultural diversity.
Spain: In Spain, Cabalgatas are grand affairs, with elaborate floats and performers delighting children in cities and towns. On January 6, families gather for a festive meal and cut into the Roscón de Reyes.
Mexico: Mexican families celebrate with lively gatherings, storytelling, and the traditional Rosca de Reyes. Children look forward to small gifts from the Kings, often placed in their shoes or under the Christmas tree.
Puerto Rico: In Puerto Rico, children collect grass or hay for the camels and leave it under their beds, alongside their shoes. In return, the Three Kings leave gifts and sweets.
France: While not traditionally tied to Three Kings’ Day, France celebrates Epiphany with a similar King’s Cake known as Galette des Rois, a puff pastry filled with almond cream. A small charm, called a fève, is hidden inside, and the person who finds it becomes “king” or “queen” for the day.
United States: In areas with large Hispanic communities, such as Texas, California, and Florida, Three Kings’ Day is celebrated with parades, festivals, and cultural events. Families often gather to share the Rosca de Reyes.
Fun Activities for Families to Celebrate
Three Kings’ Crown Craft: Help your children make their own crowns to wear during the celebration.
What You Need: Construction paper, markers, glitter, stickers, and glue.
How to Do It: Cut out crown shapes from the paper, let your kids decorate them, and staple or tape the ends to fit their heads.
Why It’s Fun: It makes your kids feel like royalty and sets the mood for the day!
DIY Camel Feed Station: Create a “feeding station” for the Kings’ camels as part of the tradition.
What You Need: Green paper (for grass), a small bowl, and some water.
How to Do It: Let your kids cut strips of green paper to resemble grass, place them in the bowl, and leave it out overnight.
Why It’s Fun: It adds an imaginative touch to the celebration and gets kids involved in the tradition.
Storytelling Time: Share the story of the Three Wise Men in a way that’s accessible and engaging for young children. Use picture books or create your own illustrated story. Include elements of adventure as the Kings follow the star to their destination.
Three Kings’ Day Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt to mimic the journey of the Wise Men.
How to Do It: Hide small “gifts” like gold chocolate coins, small toys, or stickers around the house and give clues to find them.
Why It’s Fun: It brings the story to life and keeps kids active and engaged.
Learn About the Stars: Since the Wise Men followed a star, use the day to introduce basic astronomy to your children.
- Look for constellations or read a kid-friendly book about the stars.
- Make a craft version of a star using glitter and paper.
Starting Your Own Family Traditions
Three Kings’ Day is a perfect opportunity to create new family traditions. Here are some ideas:
New Year’s Gratitude Jar: Begin the year with a jar where family members write what they’re thankful for each day leading up to Three Kings’ Day. Read the notes together on January 6.
Kindness Gifts: Instead of traditional presents, exchange notes or tokens of appreciation with family members, reflecting the spirit of giving.
Photo Keepsakes: Take a family photo each Three Kings’ Day wearing crowns or celebrating together, creating a yearly tradition to look back on.
Three Kings’ Day is a magical celebration that brings families together to share traditions, joy, and cultural appreciation. Whether you’re baking a King’s Cake, crafting crowns, or organizing a scavenger hunt, the holiday is a wonderful way to extend the festive season while teaching children about diverse customs.
At Language Kids World, we believe in the power of cultural celebrations to inspire curiosity and connection in young minds. This January 6, let’s embrace the magic of the Three Kings and create memories that your family will treasure for years to come.
Happy Three Kings’ Day from all of us at Language Kids World! 🎉
Founder and Director of Education at Language Kids.
M. Ed.
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