Celebrating the Holidays Argentine Style
January 7th, 2008 Posted in cultureWritten by Shanie
Although Christmas is celebrated in Argentina, it is not the main event.
The main event is on January 6th and is in celebration of the story of the arrival of the three kings (or three wise men). It is called El Dia de los Reyes and is actually practiced in most Latin countries. As the story goes the three kings, as described in the second chapter of the gospel of Matthew, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. In Latin tradition, on January 6th, three of the Kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus.
Some (both children and adults) celebrate by polishing and leaving their shoes at their home’s entrance, ready for the Kings’ presents before they go to bed on the eve of January 6. Families that are able to afford it leave sweet wine, snacks, fruit and milk for the Kings and their camels.
This is also the day for the larger amount of presents to be given to the children (lucky them; they get two days of presents).
When we lived in San Rafael, Mendoza the three kings traveled around the main center of town on horseback, offering small gifts and candy. The streets would be shut down and a parade of children would follow the costumed men.
Yesterday we were enjoying a micro-brew in the small village of Colonia Suiza when the sharp whine of fire engine began to disrupt the live music and bustling feria. At first I thought that there was a problem of some sort, but no… it was the three kings coming to disperse candy to the children. Many kids ran toward the red engine, excited for the hand out of sweets. Other smaller children started to cry when their parents brought them over to the ornately-dressed, black-faced men.
As when I lived in Germany, I really enjoy seeing how other cultures interpret and celebrate different holidays. This was a new one for me, with the fire engine and black painted faces of three smiling men, but something that helped add enjoyment to an otherwise mellow day.
