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Rosca de Reyes

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     Yesterday was the day of the Rosca de los Reyes (bread of the wise men). The tradition, which is a fusion of Spanish and Mexican cultures dating back to the Spanish conquest, includes parting a large round loaf of sweet bread that is typically adorned with candied fruits. The circular nature of the bread is meant to represent the circle of life, and baked into the loaves are small muñequitos (figures) of the baby Jesus. The custom is for each person to cut their own piece of the rosca anywhere in the circle that they wish, and the person who finds the figure in their piece is charged with making tamales for the whole group for the next holiday: Dia de la Candelaria which falls on February second. Since the day of los Reyes is so well known, it is possible to find a muñequito multiple times during the day, at work, at school, and at home! The día de los Reyes is also a day for gifts, for just as the three reyes magos (wise men) brought gifts to baby Jesus, so do these modern reyes bring small gifts to the children. After our short Mayan class last night, we parted a rosca together in the school!
Lilyana

Emanuel

Hale

Rosa

Emma

Kendall

And Emily gets to make the tamales!

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