Posted on 01/04/2010 6:46:04 AM PST by Ebenezer
An unusual folk celebration of the Three Kings will be held in Caguas this evening, as musicians sing a third of the traditional rosary sung to the Magi.
Elsewhere the typical celebration of the Epiphany got under way Sunday as the Magi and island mayors distributed toys and candy to children in their homes.
A rosary to the Three Kings will be sung at 7 p.m. tonight on the steps of the Dulce Nombre De Jesús Cathedral in Plaza Santiago R. Palmer in Caguas.
Folklore expert Norma Salazar of the city’s Cultural Development Department will direct the event, in which the Grupo Pleni-Bom will participate.
The Ballet Folklórico de Caguas and the Colectivo Actoral will also present tableaux about the Magi.
These rosaries, which are sung throughout Puerto Rico, begin at dawn on Three Kings Eve and extend until dawn the next day. The ritual, which includes the prayer of the 15 mysteries, concludes with the singing of the Rosary to the Dawn the next day.
This popular form of worship also includes the Promises to the Three Kings, in which five of the mysteries are sung, followed by a carol for the devout. A complete rosary lasts from sundown to sunup with musicians playing 12 hours straight.
Worshippers may carry an effigy of The Three Kings to place on the altar.
Guaynabo Mayor Héctor O’Neill and Toa Baja Mayor Aníbal Vega Borges went caroling in their respective cities Sunday.
“This is one of our island’s most beautiful Christmas traditions,” said O’Neill, who was accompanied by his wife, Alba Alvelo. “Distributing gifts to Guaynabo children and spending time with their families is a great joy for me and my wife.”
Children in Hato Nuevo, Sonadora, Villa Isleña and Mamey I and II received candy, balls and toys from the Three Kings.
Vega Borges and the Magi visited Palo Seco, Punta Salinas, Villa Marisol, El Guayabal, Villa Albizu, Villa Esperanza, Villa Quintero, San José and Toa Baja, proper.
“Just as we hoped, the children were able to enjoy one of our people’s most beautiful traditions, in a safe environment,” Vega Borges said.
Vega Borges — who made the tour with his wife, Ivelisse Rivera Albarrán, Deputy Mayor Pedro Julio Santiago and city council members — said he was pleased by the community’s support for the Three Kings Tradition.
Children took photos with Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar and participated in raffles of bicycles and other gifts, while adults enjoyed the music, refreshments and surprises.
This is the second year that the activity has been held in each neighborhood, which officials say has been a great success with the local families.
The gift giving ended with a Mass in Virgilio Dávila Square, where the mayor received the Three Kings from Juana Díaz.
“We have made this a great town festival within reach of all the children,” he said as the gifts were handed out. “Our goal is to encourage family togetherness and fill the lives of all our citizens with hope and quality of life.”
Epiphany (from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια "appearance", "manifestation") is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christ. It falls on January 6 or on a Sunday close to that date. January 6 in the Julian Calendar, which is followed by some Eastern Churches, corresponds at present to January 19 in the Gregorian Calendar, which is the official civil calendar in most countries. On this day, Western Christians commemorate principally the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus, i.e., his manifestation to the Gentiles; Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. It is also called Theophany, especially by Eastern Christians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday )
By the same token, December 25 in the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, Eastern Christians will be celebrating Christmas on Thursday.
I like how “Reyes” gives you a chance to give a Christmas gift to those you forgot or didn’t have time to buy for. Sort of a Christmas gift Mulligan.
To all my friends who celebrate Three Kings Day, I say: HAPPY HOLIDAY.
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