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On the 12th day of Christmas, January 6, Three Kings Day is celebrated in Spain, Latin America, most of Europe and many Caribbean countries. El Dia de los Reyes, as it’s called in Spanish, commemorates the three Wise Men’s visit to baby Jesus. They brought presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The holiday is also known as Epiphany. This dates back to the 4th century when a grand feast would be held on this day to pay homage to the three Wise Men, Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar.
The culinary treat that is associated with this holiday is Rosca de Reyes, aka King Cake. It is a dessert bread shaped in a circle like a crown. There is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token has to host a celebration on Candlemas Day or gets a prize, depending on where you are.
Three Kings Day is celebrated with different traditions around the world. Children leave out treats for the Wise Men and their camels and, in return, receive a toy or candy from the Wise Men. It is also celebrated by a feast, using traditional dishes, like rice and beans or peas and slow cooked meats.
New Orleans celebrates Three Kings Day with parades and drinking. And the holiday is gaining popularity in many other parts of the U.S.
Many San Antonio bakeries are letting people preorder Rosca de Reyes in the last week of December. They bake the King Cakes in different sizes and with different fillings. San Antonio has many Mexican and Latin American restaurants offering festive meals.
Every year, the Puerto Rican Heritage Society celebrates Three Kings Day with the children of San Antonio. This is a very special day in Puerto Rico. This year, their Three Kings Day Celebration will be on Sunday, January 7, 2024, from noon to 4 pm, in San Fernando Hall. Attending families will get a photograph with the Three Kings. There will be arts and crafts for the children and music. The local Puerto Rican restaurant, El Coqui Restaurant, will be there with food for sale. The celebration is free and open to the public.
La Panaderia, a Mexican bakery and cafe, is known for their Rosca de Reyes. Many believe their King Cake is the best in San Antonio. It is a large round pan dulce base decorated with a variety of candied fruits with a hidden miniature baby in it. They also have other tasty treats for your Three Kings Day celebration.
San Antonio Hotels
If you’d like to visit San Antonio for Three Kings Day, you should consider the following hotels that are offering discounted rates.
- The St. Anthony, A Luxury Collection Hotel San Antonio: 25% Discount
- Days Inn by Wyndham Suites San Antonio North/Stone Oak: 20% Discount
- La Cantara Resort & Spa: 16% Discount
- Menger Hotel: 15% Discount
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Antonio Medical Ctr. NW: 15% Discount
- Sonesta ES Suites San Antonio Downtown Alamo: 15% Discount
- Quality Suites San Antonio: 15% Discount
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Antonio Downtown: 15% Discount
- Rodeway Inn San Antonio Downtown: 15% Discount
- Wyndham Garden San Antonio Riverwalk/Museum Reach: 15% Discount
- Aloft San Antonio Airport: 15% Discount
- Alamo Inn & Suites Downtown: 15% Discount
- Hotel Havana: 15% Discount
- Sonesta ES Suites San Antonio Northwest Medical Center: 15% Discount
- Courtyard by Marriott Medical Center San Antonio: 15% Discount
- Crockett Hotel: 13% Discount
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Antonio Airport: 10% Discount
- Omni La Mansion del Rio: 10% Discount
- Makara Hotel & Suites San Antonio: 10% Discount
- Red Roof Inn PLUS + San Antonio Downtown Riverwalk: 5% Discount
