Dia de Los Reyes

Mexico and Guatemala share Epiphany customs with rest of Latin America and Spain including gifts for children from the Wise men, and "Rosca de Reyes" or Three Kings Cake. (See below: Spain, etc.) In Mexico and Guatemala however, the person who finds the doll in their piece of rosca must throw a party on February 2, "Candelaria Day," offering tamales and atole (a hot sweet drink thickened with corn flour) to the guests. In Mexico it is traditional for children to leave their shoes, along with a letter with toy requests for the Three Kings, by the family nativity scene or by their beds. In some parts of northern Mexico the shoes and letters are left under the Christmas tree. The shoes may be filled with hay for the camels, so that the Kings will be generous with their gifts.