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Legend says that on the eve of January 6th three “kings” (magi, wise men), under the guidance of a bright star, brought baby Jesus gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh. This is the end of the twelve days of Christmas and it is celebrated with delicious food, of course. In Mexico this is the day when kids receive gifts (in my parents’ time Santa Claus didn’t have the necessary infrastructure to reach Mexico) They leave their shoes outside, under their beds or under the Christmas tree (another relatively new acquisition in the Christmas repertory) to be filled with toys or candy (eeewww)

Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar ride every year on a horse, a camel and an elephant (I am not sure who rides what) leaving presents for well-behaved children and a big disappointment for naughty and infidel ones (ah so many memories!) I might’ve not received anything from them in my childhood, but I always enjoyed eating rosca de Reyes (Three King’s cake) with steamy, hot chocolate that day.

However, the last couple of years I didn’t have any. That’s why this year I decided to buy one. Actually, I wanted to bake one but I didn’t remember until Sunday morning that that was the day I was supposed to make it. And since I didn’t feel like doing anything Sunday I went to the closest Mexican market to buy one.

I am definitely making one next year. The small one cost $17.00 and it didn’t even have a baby Jesus in it. Roscas traditionally have a porcelain baby Jesus baked right in and the “lucky” person who finds it provides the tamales for the Candlemas celebration on February 2nd, although in recent years some roscas come with several plastic baby Jesus figurines.

But mine didn’t have any. I was disappointed. I don’t know if that is considered a health issue here in the States, but at least it should be stated on the box. Oh well. I was planning on making tamales, anyway. The taste of the rosca wasn’t bad, though I’ve had better ones back home. I wasn’t disappointed that the rosca was topped with dried fruit and the traditional sweet paste. At $17.00 a piece that was the least they could do. We enjoyed this Mexican traditional bread with some Abuelita hot chocolate and that Sunday morning the world looked a little bit sweeter. But seriously, I am making it (and selling it) next year!