Kaity Assaf Lebanon Daily News
This Three Kings’ Day, children will not get a toy because WEPA Empowerment Center Inc. canceled the event in light of the recent surge of COVID in Lebanon County.
The celebration, also referred to as “Día de los Reyes Magos,” is on Jan. 6. The holiday commemorates the three wise men who traveled from afar bearing gifts for baby Jesus.
Heavily celebrated in Spain, Latin America and parts of Europe, Three Kings Day falls on the 12th day of Christmas. Gifts are exchanged, and a treat called “Rosca de Reyes” — a sweet bread shaped like a wreath — is often made as well.
Maribel Torres, the cofounder of WEPA Center said the event was scheduled to be held on Jan.8 outdoors at two of the local housing units — Lebanon Village and Webster Manor — but thought it would be safer to cancel because of the people involved.
She and Rafael Torres, the founder, are also quarantining and she didn’t get test results back yet.
The recipients of toys and so forth. In our first year, we had a turnout of about 350 people,” she said.
“I am not feeling too well,” she added.
Three Kings’ Day is a big celebration in Hispanic communities, particularly the Puerto Rican community, Maribel Torres said.
“It’s our goal and our wish, especially the folks that normally would celebrate Three Kings’ Day that they continue that tradition with their children so that it doesn’t get lost,” she said.
Kaity Assaf is a news reporter at York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. Contact her at [email protected], on Twitter @kaitythekite or by phone, 717-472-0960.
Author: Amaury Abreu
