Rosca de Reyes: Tradition, Flavor, and Surprises

Edgar Cavazos
theBlin
Published in
5 min readJan 10, 2024

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The Rosca de Reyes, a delicious delicacy that has become the centerpiece of January festivities in Latin America and various European countries. But have you ever wondered why the rosca is so special on January 6 or whatm the story behind the Day of the Three Kings is?

Read it in Spanish, includes a reading comprehension activity.

Foto de Gobierno de México

What is Dia de Reyes

As a good part of the world knows, the Day of the Three Kings (Día de Reyes in Spanish), also known as Epiphany, is a religious celebration held on January 6. This day commemorates the visit of the three Wise Men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar arrived guided by the star of Bethlehem, offering symbolic gifts to the newborn.

This celebration was of great importance. In fact, in the past, January 6 was the day when Christmas gifts were exchanged in many cultures. However, with the arrival of Santa in popular culture, this tradition shifted internationally to December 25, giving way to the current focus on the Dia de Reyes as a time to share with family and enjoy the Rosca de Reyes.

In Mexico and many other nations, this day marks the end of Christmas celebrations and is a special time to share with family.

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Edgar Cavazos
theBlin

BAs in Modern Languages and International Relations, I write content that is Spanish learner-friendly.