Name: __________________________________

Date: ______________

Él Día de los Reyes Magos

What is Three Kings’ Day?
Directions: Read each article and answer the questions that follow. In each article, underline each Spanish
word or phrase that you find.

Día de los Reyes Magos

Dia de los Reyes Magos or Three Kings’ Day is one of the most beautiful religious traditions
amongst Hispanics. We have many religious holidays pertaining to saints, their lives and what they
represent and this is one of the most celebrated especially in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Hispanics celebrate Three Kings Day after New Year’s, specifically on January 6. This Hispanic
holiday is also called the Epiphany.
This Latino holiday commemorates the day when the Three Wise Men went and followed the star
to Bethlehem and found Jesus on the manger. On this day, Los Tres Reyes (the three kings) gave three
specific gifts to Baby Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
When January 6 approaches, Hispanics make many
preparations for this particular day. After December the
31st, children start writing letters to their favorite Wise
Man or Rey Mago.
What do Hispanic children write in these letters?
They ask the three wise men Balthazar, Melchor and
Gaspar for presents!
In Mexico City in the evenings of January 2 to
January 5, the whole family goes to Alameda, which is a
part in Mexico City. In this park, hundreds of stands are
set up full of food and toys. They also have stands where
children can have their picture taken with the Three Kings.
There are also a great number of helium filled balloons sold in the park. It’s through these balloons
that children’s letters travel to the Three Wise Men of the Orient. The letters are tied to the balloons and
the balloons are set to fly. As the balloons float up to the sky, the wishes on the letters are carried with
them. Children can also do their letter writing at the Alameda at this time because there are many stalls
that sell stationery and envelopes addressed to the Reyes Magos.
In Hispanic culture, on January 5th many families add figurines of Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar
to the nativity scene.
 In Puerto Rico, Día de los Reyes Magos is a huge event. The custom is for children to place their old
shoes under their beds before going to sleep. It’s in these shoes that the Wise Men will leave them the
presents they wished for in their letters.
In Spain, typically people will be strolling down the roads, trickling into the major avenues or
squares of the cities with ladders on their hands, ready to climb on the second or third row of people,
hoping to come out with a bagful of candies and one or the other gift. Because in Spain, it is not the Baby
Jesus, Santa Claus or St. Nicholas who brings gifts on Christmas Day, but rather the Three Kings, whose
generosity is put to the test on January 6, the day of the Epiphany. Children, families, and entire cities
throughout the country celebrate this major Spanish Christmas tradition.
In many houses children leave a bucket of water and hay for the animals, and milk and cookies for
the Three Wise Men to eat. Finally, Día de Reyes arrives. The children wake up with sparkles in their eyes
and excitement on their faces, and again there are more presents to open.
Kids look under their beds to see the gifts the Three Wise men left for them. The whole day is
spent with children running around playing and talking with their friends about the arrival of the Three
Wise Men and how they made it to their homes to bring the presents they asked for.
The famous Rosca de Reyes is tradition in Mexico and the family enjoys it with tamales and hot
chocolate. Mexicans eat it at a special meal of the day called merienda.
Countries like Spain, Colombia, Malta, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands celebrate Día de los
Reyes Magos or Three Kings Day also.
Sources: http://hispanic-culture-online.com/dia-de-los-reyes-magos.html,
http://www.enforex.com/culture/reyes-magos.html
Questions:
1. Three Kings Day is also called ______________________________.
2. On what day is this holiday celebrated? ______________________________________________.
3. After December the 31st, children start writing letters to their favorite _____________________
for gifts.
4. The three wise men’s names are _______________________, _______________________,
_______________________.
5. How are the letters sent?
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. In Puerto Rico, it is custom to leave _______________________ under your bed in order for the
Wise Men to place ___________________________.
7. In Mexico City in the evenings of ________________ to _________________, the whole family
goes to Alameda.
8. What do children leave out for the animals to eat? _____________________________________
What do they leave out for the Wise Men? ___________________________________________
 Crossword
Across
1. Dia de los Reyes Magos in English
2. This holiday commemorates the day
when the Three Wise Men followed the
star to __________
3. Children' letters are sent with this
4. In Puerto Rico, children place ________
under their bed.
5. meal when rosca and tamales are
eaten.
6. Children get to open gifts on Three
Kings' Day as well as
___________________.
7. number of Reyes Magos
Down
1. the three wise men are ________,
Melchor and Gaspar
2. Three Kings' Day is also known as this
English name
3. Wise Man in Spanish
4. In Alameda hundreds of stands sell
food and ________.
5. many families add __________ of the
Wise Men to the nativity scene
6. In Spain, typically people stroll down the
roads carrying ______________.