Dear Caminoheads,

Today is my favorite day of the year, well not “today” but January 6th. In my country, we celebrate “The Epiphany”, which is the visit of the Three Wise Men -or The Magi- … I honestly don’t know which is the right term, for us is “Los Reyes Magos”… and January 5th night is the “Noche de Reyes”.

The tradition says that on January 2nd, you write a letter to The Three Wise Men.

“Los Reyes Magos” come in camels, and they come from the East, so it is a long way to Argentina, and because of that, you have to leave something to eat for them. It is a whole preparation… when we were kids, we were taken like 10 blocks away from home to get some “nice grass” for the camels… it was such a whole event!!!

So, on the night of January 5th, you leave your shoes under the Christmas tree, a bucket with water for the camels, also the fresh grass picked up for them; and a glass of wine and some bread for Los Reyes Magos (they are called: Melchor, Gaspar and Balthasar). Then, on the morning of January 6th, you will find the gifts The Three Wise Men left to you, usually, when you are a child, it is what you wrote them in the letter… but it doesn’t end there… because you know, camels are messy to eat, and the Wise Men have dirt in their shoes… so there is a whole scene, at times embarrassing to the folks of “CSI Miami”, depending on the creativity of the parents! (or in my case, “aunt”).

January 6th is traditionally a joyful day… as a child, it meant you would be playing with the new toys Los Reyes Magos left for you, or the showing off the new clothes, actually celebrating the gifts, whatever it is.

There is even a wonderful music too to describe the scene of their visit, which obviously I love… (and Rebecca found “lively”)!!! Give it a try too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFTbCKkM5I

Magic Loves,

Cris