Father José de Jesús Aguilar Valdés, deputy director of Radio and Television of the Archdiocese of Mexico, explained how the tradition of the Rosca de Reyes arose, a sweet that is eaten on the occasion of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lordevery January 6.
The Gospel narrates on this day the passage of the three wise men who come to offer gifts to the Child Jesus.
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Father Aguilar indicated in a video published on his YouTube channel that “the origin of the Rosca is found in Europe where the cake or pastry has been part of the Christmas season diet in many regions,” as is the case of Italy with the panettoneas well as other European countries, including France, Belgium and Spain.
In France, for example, in the “16th century, the custom of eating an octagonal-shaped cake with a hidden seed or almond was introduced, but when it was indicated that whoever received the seed should make a commitment or prepare a party, people chose for sneakily eating it without saying anything,” he explained.
“This caused the seed to be exchanged for some other inedible object.”
“Thus, rings and even small porcelain images of the Child Jesus were hidden inside the bread. In Spain, bread was given the shape of a crown that is offered to the Child God, recognizing him as the king of Kings. The multicolored fragments of crystallized fruit represent the jewels,” he said.
The priest specified that “the donut was round in the beginning but due to the large number of guests it had to be made larger and the space of the pastry ovens modified its shape and turned it into an oval crown.”
Then, he noted, “the missionaries who arrived in our country incorporated the thread into the celebration of January 6. The figurine of the hidden Child received a new meaning remembering that Mary and Joseph hid the Baby Jesus to save him from the massacre of innocents ordered by King Herod.
“Mexican tradition affirms that whoever finds the Child God has a big heart and great generosity and, therefore, must offer the typical tamalada (tamales) on Candlemas Day,” said Father Aguilar.
This article was originally published on January 5, 2020. It has been updated for republication.
David Ramos
Graduated in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Privada del Norte in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working at ACI Prensa, I have been based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered Pope Francis’ trips to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.