We Three Kings.........

It's time like these that I love being a halves-ie (1/2 American 1/2 Argentine).  Now that there are a lot more inter-racial/cultural marriages I consider halves-ie their own special breed.  Anyway back to why I love being a halves-ie (sp?).  Growing up both parents did a great job of creating a bi-cultural/lingual home.  My mom mostly taught us of the Argentine customs/traditions and along with my dad's support and job benefits we were able to spend summers in Argentina.  One of the many traditions both North and Latin American that we grew up with was El Dia de Los Reyes (Day of the 3 Kings).  For those who don't know much of this Latin tradition on the night of January 5th you put your shoes out next to the tree or pesebre (nativity).  Now this can be different for every family, but this is how we did it at our house.  We always put out our nicest, fanciest pair of shoes, which always ended up being our church shoes, and just like Santa needs his milk and cookies, we would leave a bowl of water, grass/straw for the camels and a little snack for the 3 Kings.  Then on the morning of the 6th we would wake up to 1 unwrapped present next to our pair of shoes.  For the most part this one present would be a little more expensive or of more value then those given on Christmas, but not all the time.  So having grown up with this tradition pretty much my whole life, even into my adult years my mom would insist we bring our shoes over to her house, this was one of the many traditions I wanted to start with my future family.  Danny and I have done it together for the last 3 years (me initiating it of course). But this year we were able to add one more pair of shoes and watch Elia crawl over and play with her presents- (my mom sent presents for me to put by her shoes so we technically got more than 1 gift this year). For the first time ever on Dia de los Reyes, I ate Rosca and I got the baby Jesus in my piece of bread  (this is more of a Mexican tradition, I think.)  But we went over to some friends from our old branch and they had made some yummy Mexican food and bought a Rosca to eat.  From my understanding- whoever gets the piece of bread with the baby Jesus has to throw the next party and make the food, normally tamales- so I guess I will be hosting a party soon... Anyway, horraayy for family traditions!!

 Our shoes under The German-Peruvian-Argentine and bought in Chile but it's really a Peruvian Nativities on a small blanket from Guatemala

                                                   Checking out what Los Reyes brought her

                                                La Rosca- and it was very yummy

                                                       Baby Jesus in my piece of the Rosca