Mixi Culinary Project

Rosca de Reyes
The Rosca de Reyes (ring of the kings) in Spain or Rosca de Reyes in Latin America is traditionally eaten on January 6, during the celebration of the Día de Los Reyes Magos (Epiphany or the "Day of the Three Wisemen"). While the Rosca de Reyes is originally from Spain, it is also very commonly associated with and celebrated in Mexico and the Mexican diaspora throughout the world, as well as throughout the Hispanic world. Recipes vary from country to country and between cultures. In most of Spain, Mexico, and in Latino communities in the United States, this is the day when children get presents from the Three Wise Men. Before going to bed, children in Mexico and other Latin American countries, such as Argentina, leave a shoe outside their home or room, filled with hay or dried grass and a bowl of water as a present for the animals the Reyes ride, along with a note for the Reyes. The Rosca de Reyes has an oval shape to symbolize a crown. For decoration, people sometimes use dried and candied fruits such as figs, quince, or cherries. The fruit symbolizes the many jewels that a crown would have.
The tradition of placing a bean, candy, or figurine of the baby Jesus inside the cake is followed. The figurine of the baby Jesus hidden in the bread represents the flight of the Holy Family, fleeing from King Herod's Massacre of the Innocents. Whoever finds the baby Jesus figurine is blessed and must take the figurine to the nearest church on February 2 (Candlemas Day, Día de la Candelaria), which celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. In Mexican culture, the tradition has a long list of traditions that vary based on region and family, as well as moving away from Mexico, and centers even more around sharing food and generosity with neighbors. The person who finds the baby Jesus has the responsibility of hosting a dinner and providing tamales and atole—traditional Christmas foods, (but which are highly labor-intensive) to the guests. This celebration will often include Pozole, (a hearty warming stew for cold weather and mornings) which is made for all of one's neighbors. Other observations state that the person who finds the baby Jesus is the "comadre" or "compadre" (guardian) of Jesus for that year. In Mexico and the Mexican diaspora in the United States, people who find the baby Jesus figurine in their piece of cake usually agree to host a party on Candlemas (February 2) and to provide the guests with tamales and atole.
Rosca de Reyes generally has an oval shape due to the need to make cakes large enough for large groups. For decoration, figs, quinces, cherries, or dried and candied fruits are often, but not exclusively, used It may be compared to a King Cake but is a distinct tradition from King Cake, in that it emerged from a Hispanic culture and Latin America's unique observance of the holiday, but is like others in that it emerges from a Catholic observance of food, celebration, and reverence for the holidays.

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DÍA de la Candelaria
Candlemas
Candlemas (also spelled Candlemas), also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Feast of the Holy Encounter, is a Christian Holy Day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
Mexico
In Mexico, it is traditional to celebrate the presentation of the Christ child in the temple on February 2. The dressing and adoration of the child Jesus and family meals with tamales are an important Mexican tradition.
This festival is closely linked to that of the Epiphany, during which the tasting of the Rosca de Reyes (kings’ cake) will determine who is responsible for organizing Candlemas. Whoever finds the muñeco (bean-shaped Christ child) in the cake is named godfather of the child, who will then dress the Niño Dios (an image of the Christ child in the form of a doll) on Candlemas with richly decorated clothes, which is then brought to the church to be blessed. Memories of these events are often passed down from generation to generation in families.
Following this is the family meal. Whoever draws the bean on Epiphany must also prepare tamales, which is believed to echo Mexico's pre-Christian past with its offerings of maize. The whole family is invited to this meal (often the same people as for the Rosca at Epiphany), which gives the festival an aspect of family and sharing. These celebrations take place not only in Mexico but also in Mexican communities around the world, for instance in France. It is for this reason that the Mexican tradition also appears in the Inventory of intangible cultural heritage in France.