“This holiday is for children and the children inside all of us,” said Andres Gonzalez, an active member of the church. “All my Brookville neighbors take down their Christmas lights by January second or third, but we take ours down the Sunday after January 6.”
At the Mass, the three kings solemnly entered the church clad in gold, purple and red and accompanied by the singing of “Los Reyes Magos,” (“The Three Kings Are Coming”). At the end of the Mass, they bowed in front of a 30-foot high Nativity scene and presented their gifts to the baby.
In the church basement following the service, members of the Puerto Rican and Caribbean Organization (PACO) provided lively entertainment and gifts for all the excited kids.
Manuel Arias of Dayton, portraying one of the three kings, said he loved continuing the tradition of his ancestors and “the beautiful smiles on the children’s faces when they get their gifts.”
That wasn’t true for everyone. One little boy began howling as soon as he was placed in Arias’ lap for his gift and photo op.
“It’s worse than Santa!” laughed Nancy Rodriguez of Butler Twp., who grew up in Guatemala and said she loved the family values that the holiday represents.
“I remember going to the Masses, the procession, the Three Kings,” she said. “My grandmother would always tell me to say a prayer to the Three Kings the night before the holiday and they would bring me presents. I remember getting a Barbie doll and eating tamales.”
Nohemi Reyes, originally from Mexico, came with her 4-year-old and a 2-month old baby.
“On the night of the fifth we would put a shoe under the bed,” she said through a translator. “We were really excited to wake up the next morning and get the gift we’d wanted on top of the shoe. If families could afford it, they would have a special coffee cake called Rosca de Reyes that had a little plastic doll inside that represented the baby Jesus. Whoever got the doll would have to prepare tamales for the others on February second.”
Elena MacDonald de Ubinas of Beavercreek said her dream is to celebrate Christmas in Puerto Rico some day. Her 12-year-old son, Javier, puts a box of grass under his bed for the holiday each year. The gifts he receives symbolize the gifts given to the baby Jesus by the Magi.
“Christmas in America is go-out-and-buy-the-sweater so someone can return it,” she said. “I think Three Kings Day is more authentic.”
Nine-year-old Sophia Lopez of Riverside, holding the soccer ball she’d received as a gift, said she likes this holiday because “you get to spend time with your family.” She said she’ll probably continue the tradition with her own children some day.
“You don’t want to mess up the traditions from your parents,” she explained, “but you can still do your own thing.”
Sister Maria Stacy, director of the Hispanic Catholic Ministry, said members of the church come from throughout the area.
“These are people of faith. They are people of hope,” she said. “They are always very generous and very grateful.”
A Spanish Mass is held every Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 310 Allen St. in Dayton.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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