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Name one person who hasn’t heard of Christmas, and you’d go in the Guinness Book of World Records. Name one person who has heard of the Three Kings Day, and you’d also go in the Guinness Book of World Records for that! Why?
First off, you’d have to live in Puerto Rico to understand the meaning behind the Three Kings. Secondly, what with the whole Christmas rush, anything left for the tradition that is the Three Kings sort of gets thrown by the wayside. But in case you’re curious….
The tradition revolves around the day of Jesus’ birth when three different Kings came from faraway lands to give gifts to the newborn Lord. It is, actually, the most fundamental basis behind the idea of Christmas — which is why it’s so important to that Hispanic culture. It’s about giving.
The way it work is you set down a bowl or two of grass and another bowl or two of water under the Christmas tree to wait for the Three Kings to stop by your house. Their camels need a bit of sustenance, right? When your children are fast asleep, the Three Kings arrive and let their camels feed and drink while the Kings leave presents — that’s right, more presents! The next day, your kids marvel at the wonder that is the Three Kings on their way to deliver frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
Three Kings Day is typically on the 6th of January, so you can imagine the joy of receiving more good tidings twelve days after Christmas. It makes the spirit of Christmas that much more enjoyable.
