3 Kings Bring Presents, Preserve Culture

According to 12-year-old Gisleidy Rodríguez, the meaning of Three Kings Day was ​“presents.”

But as she skipped around the room with her younger nieces and told the story of the milk she left under her bed for the Three Kings to drink, she gave a different kind of gift to the adults in the room — adults determined to pass on dearly-held traditions to the next generation.

The children from Junta for Progressive Action’s after-school program gathered with their family members at the Atwater Senior Center on Monday afternoon for a celebration of Three Kings Day.

The holiday centers around the biblical story of three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to present gifts to baby Jesus. It plays an important role in many Spanish-speaking cultures, with slight variations in tradition from place to place.

Over 70 people in total filled the room, enjoying a feast of beans, chicken, eggs, greens, and eventually cake, as a band filled the room with jubilant music. The event was supported by the Board of Education, the Italian Social Club, and Dimeo Construction Management.

For Cheila Serrano, Junta’s Director of Operations, the holiday has always been a part of her life, connecting her to family and to her Puerto Rican culture.

One reason why Junta organizes an annual gathering on Three Kings Day, Serrano said, is to ​“keep it alive.” 

“Some people forget,” she said — especially in parts of the state without many Latino cultural institutions. Junta’s message, especially to immigrant clients, is: ​“No, don’t forget about your culture, even though you’re here. Teach your children,” Serrano said. ​“And they love that.”

One parent in the crowd, Cristina, echoed this sentiment. 

She also grew up with Three Kings as an annual part of her life, and the holiday makes her think about her father, ​“who’s getting older.” 

Now that she has children, the holiday has taken on a new meaning to her, she said. ​“It means bringing the family together” — and passing on the traditions of previous generations to her kids.

Monday, she pointed out, was the first-ever Three Kings experienced by her four-month-old baby.

Soon, a trio of volunteer ​“kings” (including State Rep. Al Paolillo) made an appearance. Dressed for the role from head to toe, they each approached tables throughout the room, greeting every child. 

Then they remained so that every family could pose with them for a photograph.

Meanwhile, each child involved with Junta’s after-school program received a gift hand-selected especially for them. 

Waiting for her package, Gisleidy skipped over to some other kids from the afterschool program. ​“Did you see my baby niece?!” she asked. ​“She’s 1!”

She soon received her designated gift, which she quickly unwrapped to reveal a jewelry-making kit that could be reused again and again with new combinations of beads. ​“You can make a thousand bracelets!” she beamed.

An abundance of toys in the next room meant that the kids and their siblings could each pick out a second gift, maybe a third. 

Gisleidy headed over to the pile with her nieces and sister-in-law.

She found a rainbow toy telephone for her baby niece, Aaliyah, who at that point was peacefully sleeping. And she selected a remote-control doll from the Hello Kitty universe — to add to a trove of Hello Kitty bedding and outfits she has at home.

“I have Hello Kitty Pants, one Hello Kitty shirt, and another Hello Kitty shirt, and another Hello Kitty shirt,” she said. ​“It’s too cute that I can’t not like it!” 

Though toys were at the top of Gisleidy’s mind on Monday, she said she doesn’t remember if she got any presents on Three Kings Day last year. 

What she does remember is filling up a glass of milk and leaving it under her bed for the Three Kings to drink — one of the uncountable offerings that the Three Kings received that night inside shoes and under beds across the world. 

When Gisleidy woke up the next morning, the glass of milk was empty. ​“They drank it,” she explained.