On January 6, the Catholic epiphany is celebrated. The feast commemorates principally the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles. It is called Three Kings’ Day – Día de los reyes magos. And it is a day when families and  specially children receive Christmas presents. There are many ways to celebrate it, but many agree to have a cake for breakfast after opening the presents. Inside the Roscón de Reyes there is a surprise. This surprise has evolved from a bean to figurines of Christmas symbolism or a little baby Jesus. The one who finds the surprise becomes the “crowned” or the king.

There are different opinions about the origin of this custom. One is attributed to the Roman celebrations of the Saturnalia in winter, in which offerings were made along with cakes covered with figs and dates. Others tell a story about a French cook who wanted to surprise to Louis XV of France, making a cake with a surprise inside. This later became a tradition among the aristocracy. In France it is called galette des rois and is a round cake made of puff pastry and filled with almonds. In Spanish-speaking countries the Roscón de Reyes has an oval shape simulating a crown and the dough is a brioche style with citrus aromas, mainly orange.

In Spain it is called Roscón de Reyes, and is decorated with candied fruits, sugar and almonds. Sometimes filled with whipped cream. In other countries of America it is called rosca de reyes, and is decorated with quince, ate, cactus leaves, cherries and dried fruits. And it is eaten with hot chocolate or atole.

In the south of the United States, king cake is also consumed with great popularity. The tradition is the same, the celebration of the epiphany and the beginning of the Mardi Gras carnival season. Among many other customs, the locals attribute this cake to being of French origin, but the shape like a crown and the type of brioche-style dough, along with the sugar decoration is once again of Spanish origin

The rosca de reyes as we know today does not have a very long history. The first reference of a roscón with oval shape and dough similar to the one we find today in our tables dates from around 1880. Anyway, the season of the roscón de reyes has begun and I am looking forward to enjoying it.

¡Buen provecho!

One of the most popular Christmas traditions in Spanish speaker countries occurs on December 28. The day when everyone can play practical jokes. Is called “el día de los inocentes“ and is equivalent of April Fools’ Day.

This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a more cheerful day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.

The fooled person is almost always called “inocente“, but in every country there is a different way to say that the person is being played. In Spain, the saying is “¡Inocente, inocente!” (Innocent one, innocent one!). In Mexico, is accompanied by the phrase “Inocente palomita que te dejaste engañar” (Innocent little dove that you let yourself be fooled); in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, “caíste por inocente” (you fell for being innocent.)

Meanwhile in El Salvador is a more colorful religious celebration with floats for a parade adorned with pictures of children representing those in the Biblical story. In Venezuela, the celebrations are a mix of traditions, where parades with people dressed in costumes and multicolored masks, go out to dance in Sanare. They represent the madness of the mothers who lost their children at that time

So, if you read the news in Spanish on December 28, think twice if you find something hard to believe, “no sea usted inocente”, and of course don’t lend money to anyone on that day, you might be the last one to laugh.

Casa de España now offers classes at our new Riverbend Classrooms at 8200 Hampson Street, New Orleans, LA.