On My Way To Heaven

Fra Angelico

Epihany, e-piph-a-ny

–noun, plural -nies.

(initial capital letter) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.

I read this post and thought that I might share about our traditions in Mexico.

My tree is up as in everyone elses’ home in Mexico. We never take it out before this day, because the celebration continues. Our celebrations always last long, so we start January  5th with a gathering of friends and family to eat Rosca de Reyes (King’s Bread) and hot chocolate.

All the bakeries only bake Rosca de Reyes from the 4th to the 6th of January. People will make long lines to buy their favorite one!

Kids love this sweet bread that has a surprise within…a plastic white baby (baby Jesus). So as we sit around the table we take turns cutting the bread (it doesn’t have to be in a particular order, you cut anywhere) trying to find the baby Jesus. The knife symbolizes the danger that Jesus was in when Herod’s army was looking for Him, after the wise men, led by an angel of the Lord, didn’t come back to him to give him a report on where the baby was born.

We cut and cut and finally one (or maybe three if the Rosca de Reyes is big enough) finds the baby Jesus; we all cheer, and now he  will have to host a party on February the 2nd with tamales and atole.

Mexico is an extremely Catholic country,( You’d probably figured out by reading my entries that I am a Reformed, Calvinist) so many people (especially the poor) have a tradition that comes along. They take a ceramic figurine of the baby Jesus, Niño Dios, and take it to some market stands to buy some beautiful and elaborated robes for him; then they worship the figurine itself. Many people have made a new idol of this “baby Jesus”, they pray to el Niño Dios and have a shrine for him in their homes through out all the year.

Another tradition is the coming of The Reyes Magos (Wise Men), on  January the 5th. Children send a card tied to a balloon for the Magi and  leave one of their shoes besides the Christmas Tree, and leave water and hay for the camels and maybe  some cookies for the wise men.

Melchor, a white man with a long and white beard that brings gold to King Jesus;  Gaspar, a man from Asia, with a long black beard, he brings frankincense to Jesus meaning the adoration that is only due to God; and Baltazar, a black young man who brings myrrh symbolizing Jesus’ death. All from different nations, reminding us that from all people, from every nation and tribe, men and women and children will come and bow their knees at Jesus acknowledging His Kingship.

Dürer, The Adoration of the Magi

It is January the 6th, children wake up very early and run to the tree to see what present the wise men brought to them. (Here are some images for your children to color)

What should we consider now?

I like to think about my adoration to King Jesus, not baby Jesus, He was born to grow and die and rise again. He is now at the right hand of  God.

Am I willing to come  worship Him? The wise men made a long travel to worship the New Born King, my journey is shorter. Sometimes it’s from my bed to my knees, and even that short journey seems too heavy and long at times.

Am I willing to come to His Word, to listen His voice speaking to me?

The Wise Men  had to come and seek  for Jesus, today by His infinite grace, He came and found me.

The Wise Men brought Jesus gifts, but now Jesus comes to me, and gives me the gift that surpasses all, Eternal Life.

I listen to God’s voice when I come to worship Him.

When I am willing to come.

Jesus, The  Living Word of God!

*Just a note; because we don’t want our little  one to be confused about what is real and what is not. She knows that we are “playing” the magi, so we do the whole thing, balloon and shoes, but she gives Daddy a kiss of gratitude. The older children also receive a little thing, but mostly, the joy of seeing her little sister enjoying this time a lot.

WHAT IS COOKING? SHARE YOUR WEEK MENU HERE! (And grab some ideas, like cranberry-glazed pork chops!)