*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and JCPenney. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
We always celebrate Three Kings Day in our family. This year, however, I have decided to spend a lot more time teaching my boys some of our family traditions around this special holiday. It is really important to me that they look back upon this day fondly the way that I do from my own childhood in Spain. My Grandparents always made sure that this day was very special in their home and I want it to be equally special in our house.
One of my favorite memories from our family Three Kings Day celebrations is the year that I wanted a special toy called Boti Bota. It was fashioned after a character in one of my favorite game shows and was a toy that you wrapped around one ankle and swung around and jumped over with your other foot. All of the kids in my class had one and I wanted one so badly! Every single day, I reminded my Grandmother that I was hoping that the Three Kings would leave one under my bed. She just chuckled and responded, “Vamos a ver,” we will see…
Learning about Three Kings Day traditions in Cuba from their Great Grandmother, Mima!
The night before January 6th, which is Three Kings Day, my Grandparents instructed me to put my shoes on the floor at the foot of my bed and fill them with hay for the camels that the Magi ride in on. I promptly did so and prayed that I would find Boti Bota in their place the following day. The next morning, there was a wrapped package where the hay had stood the night before, right on top of my shoes. As I ripped off the wrapping paper, it revealed Boti Bota inside and I couldn’t have been happier!
These are exactly the kinds of memories that I want my boys to have of our family Three Kings Day celebrations. It’s very important to my husband and I also that our boys maintain our cultural traditions. We are planning to make a trip to JCPenney this weekend to buy their gifts for this special day. It’s always the perfect place for us to shop during the holidays because they have all of the apparel and toys that our boys added to their Three Kings wish list.
My sons and nephews are so excited about celebrating Three Kings Day!
We also really love the fact that JCPenney is celebrating the cultural traditions of or real Latino families through their “Real Holidays by Real Families” video series. This series features the stories of Latino kids in their children’s choir from their holiday campaign. It is beautiful to hear how Anthony has Santa Claus and Los Tres Reyes or Three Kings competing to see who gives him the best gifts!
Although I am sad to know that we are coming to the end of the holiday season with The Three Kings being the last day of celebration, I know that my boys had a wonderful holiday surrounded by their loved ones and filled with the warmth and the love of family. There is nothing better than that…
Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign on behalf of Latina Mom Bloggers and JCPenney. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
© 2014, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
Unfortunately my parents didn’t share this tradition with me and my siblings, however I made sure my trio knew about it!! I have pictures of their shoes filled with grass going through the years- priceless! I’m glad you’re continuing this with your boys; it’s a wonderful custom. BB2U
Handing down traditions is very important and sharing them with your sons is great.
This is a great tradition, My family doesn’t have any traditions, you are bless
Traditions, no matter which culture you are from, are extremely important to hand down to future generations so that they can then hand them down. I am happy that you were able to show your sons this tradition and the meaning behind it.
I really LOVED hearing about your Three Kings Day traditions. Until this year, I had never even heard of the holiday, so it’s interesting to me to hear a little about the background and customs.
I’m so glad that you got your Boti Bota! It would have been sad if you didn’t. I am ashamed to say I’d never heard of Three Kings Day before reading your post. But that’s one of the pleasures of blogs – so many new things to learn, so many cultures and traditions to become familiar with! ¡Viva España!
I haven’t heard of this celebration but I think it’s wonderful to share it with your children so that they will have great memories.
its wonderful that you are passing down tradition to your children
I don’t believe I’ve heard of this celebration before either, but I love hearing about families sharing special times like this!
That sounds like a very interesting tradition. I bet you were so happy when you found the package on your shoes! 🙂
The traditions around the world are so interesting. I think it’s wonderful you keep your Cuban tradition alive for your sons. It is part of their heritage and will make their lives richer.
I had never heard of this holiday, thank you so much for teaching me a bit more about your culture. I love learning different things and will check out more to teach my kids.
I have never heard of this holiday before. It is awesome sharing family traditions.
I have never heard of this holiday before. It isis so nice to learn about new holidays and family traditions of others
I think this is such a great tradition. Some of my friends and family celebrate Three Kings Day and I like hearing all the details on what they get. 🙂
What a lovely tradition – I have been hearing about this from my mom too but it’s the first time I have learned that this is also being celebrated.
What a nice tradition, great post!
This sounds like a fun way to spend time together!
We celebrate this as well. Although we are ready to pack up our decorations, we can wait another week to enjoy the festivities.
We almost always for get Three Kings Day! Thanks for the reminder this year!
This is awesome! I remember my sister-in-law talking about how they always celebrated 3 kings day when she was little. She is from Ecuador and she has some truly amazing stories. I just love hearing about those traditions.
I love learning about other traditions. Hope you and your family got to spend a wonderful 3 kings day!
My kids love to get presents and this is a celebration I am not very familiar with so I will be sure to find out more.
We don’t celebrate this but love that you pass on this tradition with your family. Great idea that JCPenney celebrates Latino and families with their “Real Holidays by Real Families” video series
I’m loving this new series from JC Penney. It’s nice to see real families featured and sharing their traditions.
What an awesome story from your childhood! I am really enjoying learning with this new series from JC Penny. Thank you for sharing!
I love that you had a chance to celebrate an important day in your culture. Love that JCP is doing this!
I love families who keep traditions alive. It’s great that JC Penny is featuring families who have special traditions
First heard about this on another blog. I had no idea what Three Kings was all about. It’s nice of JC Penney to feature the latino traditions.
i heard about this briefly on THIS Christmas by some people from Italy. Interesting traditions. Thank you for sharing.
I love JC Penny and I love that they are doing something like this! It’s nice reading about some Latino traditions. Thanks for sharing!