First of all, if you haven't seen the pictures of our New Year's in Mexico City, see post below!
We have another Christmas time holiday here in Mexico that isn't commonly celebrated in other countries (well, maybe Latin America, I'm not sure!) It's "Wise Men Day." This is the day where we commemerate the wise men bringing Jesus gifts. Like Christmas, this day has turned into a gift-buying night-mare, in which the real significance of the day gets totally lost. But, on January 5th, kids get a helium-filled balloon and attach a piece of paper denoting the present that they want. Supposedly, the wise men come that night and bring them the gift. On January 6th, kids wake up and lo and behold, the gift they asked for!
Since this is a day for kids, adults don't get presents. We get "Rosca de Reyes" bread.
This bread is special. Apart from having candied fruit, figs, and walnuts on top, it carries surprises in it too. Each rosca contains a little white plastic doll (like a plastic army-man, just it's in the form of a baby) baked inside. Depending on the size of the rosca, there may be multiples. And there's a catch to the dolls. Each person cuts their own slice of rosca. And if they uncover a doll, or there's a doll hidden in their slice, they must buy tamales for everyone present on February 2. I guess that's why there's more dolls for a bigger rosca - so tamales for 20 people can be bought between 5 or 6 people. I ALWAYS get a doll. Every year. Last night, JP and I went to a prayer meeting for Horizonte Church leaders. Being January 6th, we cut a rosca. JP got a doll. We foung 5 dolls in total, and there was a lot of rosca left. I took a slice home, thankful that I didn't owe tamales in February! And, as I was eating the bread at home, I bit the doll! But we'll just say it didn't count because I wasn't with the others who cut the rosca when I found it... :)
Just a little interesting piece of Mexican culture for you!
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