'Because our toddler is reaching the age where he can start to understand and enjoy family traditions, I don’t want him to miss out on the magic that was so integral to my own childhood.'
When I was growing up, despite Santa Claus becoming more popular in Mexico, we all couldn’t wait for the Santos Reyes to come around. So when I had kids of my own, I decided — along with my Spanish ex-husband — that even though we weren’t living in Mexico or Spain, where the tradition of the Reyes Magos is so popular, that we would teach our sons to believe in them while raising them in New York City. And they did believe, with the same fervor and delight that they believed in Santa Claus.
Every year the kids wrote letters to the kings, assuring them that they’d been good. And before bedtime, on the eve of their arrival, we set out wine and tasty food like cookies, as well as lettuce and water for the camel, elephant, and horse they ride on. Then, each of us put out a special shoe, freshly shined that day, where the majesties drop the presents.
Although to me, Día de Reyes is a magical time and is full of childhood memories, my current husband is totally indifferent to the holiday, as he’s an atheist. We do celebrate Christmas as a family, and my husband enjoys the less religious traditions like parties, decorations, and presents, however by the time January rolls around, he’s maxed out on holidays, and is much more interested in renegotiating his New Year’s resolutions than engaging in another round of gift-giving.
Still, I’ve decided to continue honoring a tradition taught to me by my parents and grandparents, even as our older boys have aged out of their beliefs. Because our toddler is reaching the age where he can start to understand and enjoy family traditions, I don’t want him to miss out on the magic that was so integral to my own childhood.
I’m not particularly devout, so this is more of a cultural tradition than a religious one that I’d like to preserve for my children. I’m determined to hand down a piece of shared identity and recreate the colorful moments from my childhood in Mexico for my children.