Hispanics celebrate birth of Christ with wise men

By J.D. Long-García, The Catholic Sun
January 4, 2007

Hispanic Catholics will be celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany with a traditional cake that’s both delicious and catechetical: the rosca de reyes.

A small plastic baby representing the Christ Child is baked inside the ring-shaped rosca. The knife used to cut the cake — typically on Jan. 6 — symbolizes the danger surrounding the child Jesus. 

“It’s a tradition that we’re bringing here,” said Jesus Chavez, a Mexican immigrant who heads up Familias Unidas, a family-focused Catholic group at Santa Teresita Parish in El Mirage.

“Christmas is being commercialized. It’s not focused as much on God, who this is all really about,” he said, adding that this tradition helps families focus on Christ.

Whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby Jesus figurine will help prepare food for the next celebration Feb. 2. That’s the day the Church observes Candlemas, the presentation of the Jesus at the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mother.

“The tradition helps us understand that that day is when the three magi found the child Jesus and brought their gifts,” said Carolina Uribe, coordinator of Hispanic ministry at St. Mary Parish in Chandler.

“It’s important that we continue with these traditions because it’s part of our lives, part of our roots and our culture,” she said.

“We have the responsibility to plant that seed in new generations so that they will know the real significance of these celebrations,” Uribe added.

The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The magi “seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of nations,” it states.

“We have to recognize the three magi because they left everything to search out the Messiah. They knew they were looking for the King of kings,” Uribe said.

“And what about us? When will we truly leave all behind and look for Him?”

Uribe believes that through Christ-centered traditions and sharing meals, Catholics can keep the true meaning of Christmas. 

King’s cake

In New Orleans, bakeries are filled with king cakes this time of year. King cakes are just like roscas, only their association with Mardi Gras parties can distort their connection to the birth of Christ. 

“It’s a delicious piece of bread in a wheel shape and it’s cut and shared. Whoever gets the little baby has to give the next party with another king cake,” said Sr. Leah Couvillion, SSND.

“In New Orleans it is so big. You have these big bakeries that would all vie with each other to see who could make the best king cakes,” she said.

Sr. Leah would participate in the tradition while she was stationed in the South. She also spent time in Mexico and reflected on a time when religion was more pervasive.

“You celebrated saints’ days, when you sneezed you said something holy, name days were celebrated,” she said.

“Before in Mexico they didn’t have a Santa Claus,” Sr. Leah said. “It was the kings that brought the gift. It was like all of life was permeated by the faith.”