Día De Los Reyes (Three Kings Day) may seem to fall outside of the December Holiday celebration; however, it’s part of the religious symbolism of Christmas, and it is celebrated in Paraguay. The children look forward to this as the most important day of the year. Christmas itself here is low key, with very little by way of presents.
Día de los Reyes is celebrated on January 6th., 12 days after Christmas. It is often viewed as the last day of the Christmas season, or the end of the 12 Days of Christmas. Dia de los Reyes Magos commemorates the arrival in Bethlehem of the three Wise Men: Melchior, Gaspar,and Balthazar who followed the Star of Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus. Most towns and villages and many churches celebrate with a parade featuring the Three Kings. Some Kings throw sweets to the children along the street.Children anxiously await waking up on January 6th to find toys, and gifts left by the Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men). In some areas, it is customary to leave out shoes in which treasures may be deposited by the visiting Wise Men. Some children leave out a box of hay or food for the camels.
For children in the Chacarita there is little to look forward to as parents cannot afford presents. A trip to the local market to gaze at toys is their treat. However, many parents try to get a small gift from the local market and other families get together to have a small meal in the evening.
There was little festivity in the house nextdoor to me (a squat). When I popped round with a card game from the Kings, for the children to play together. You would have thought that I had brought gold. They were so happy.
The young lad on the left sells newspapers. His dream was realised when somebody gave him a bicycle to help him with his work.Here all the commercialisation of Christmas is really put into perspective amidst the poverty.
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