Roman Catholics in Latin America and Spain prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings. The feast day is celebrated 12 days after Christmas. 

Accordingly, a professor at the University of Central Florida explained the annual Roman Catholic tradition.

Gift of the Magi

In a report with Click Orlando, Ilenia Colón Mendoza explained that the Magi brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. According to tradition, the presents were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Mendoza is an art history associate professor at the University of Central Florida. She also explained the significance of each gift to that of Christ's ministry. 

She said that the gold symbolized His being a king. The frankincense spoke about His divine nature. 

Mendoza added that the myrrh was prefiguration. According to tradition, people use myrrh to embalm bodies. It predicted His death on the cross. 

She also spoke of the tradition where Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar followed the Star of Bethlehem. They presented their gifts to the Christ Child on Jan. 6. 

Childhood Traditions

Mendoza recalled growing up as a child in Puerto Rico. She said they would prepare for the feast day on Jan. 5. The children would gather grass for the camels to eat. 

She said the grass would be placed in a shoebox along with water. The professor explained. The gesture was like leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus. 

Mendoza said children would receive little gifts from the Magi. Some of these gifts included fruit or candies. She told the news outlet that she continued the tradition with her son. 

She left Puerto Rico when she was 18 years old. Mendoza shared that traditions such as the Feast of The Three Kings were a part of her heritage. They kept her connected to her beloved island. 

Mendoza added that the Feast of the Three Kings was more than mere tradition. It was something that kept her close to her Puerto Rican culture. 

She said that it was also something she shared with her son, who is half Puerto Rican. Mendoza explained that the feast day meant more than the extra gifts. It reminded her child of his heritage. 

The professor said that she remembered celebrating the tradition as a child. It was a special memory for her. 

She hoped her child would continue the tradition with his children in the future. 

A Celebration of Culture

Many leaders in Kissimmee recognize the Christian tradition. More than half of the population is Hispanic. 

Melissa Zayas-Moreno told the news outlet that their Hispanic community continues to grow. She is the chairperson for the Hispanic Business Council. 

Moreno stressed the importance of keeping traditions alive. She said that the children needed to pass these practices to their children. It was a way of keeping culture and tradition alive for years to come. 

The Feast of the Three Kings will take place on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Old Town. The tradition is now in its 17th year.

Manifestation of Christ 

According to Britannica, the Christian tradition is among the church's oldest and most important feasts. It commemorated the first manifestation of Christ as the Savior of the Gentiles.

 

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