The WEPA Empowerment Center is seeking funding to host our annual Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) Cultural & Community Celebration in January 2027. This free, public, multi-generational initiative is designed to preserve an invaluable cultural tradition, foster cross-cultural understanding, and provide essential winter resources and educational materials to local children and families.
By blending rich cultural education with tangible community support, this event serves as a vital bridge in Lebanon County, ensuring that our growing, diverse population feels seen, celebrated, and supported. The celebration will seamlessly integrate historical education, traditional live music, authentic culinary arts, interactive crafts, and a targeted resource distribution drive.
2. The Cultural Significance & Educational Component
A central pillar of this project is its robust educational framework. While Three Kings Day is a cornerstone holiday celebrated across Latin America, Spain, and the global diaspora, many individuals in the broader community are unfamiliar with its history, values, and contemporary observance.
To bridge this gap, the event will feature an interactive, bilingual educational showcase:
The History of the Magi: Live presentations and vibrant bilingual display boards will detail the origins of the holiday, tracing its roots and explaining its significance as the culmination of the traditional twelve days of Christmas.
Family Traditions Explained: Educators will share the unique ways families observe the holiday eve—such as children placing shoeboxes filled with grass or hay under their beds for the Kings' camels, and waking up to find gifts left in their place.
The Rosca de Reyes Tradition: We will host an interactive demonstration explaining the symbolism of the Rosca de Reyes (King’s Bread), detailing what the hidden figurine represents (the safeguarding of the Epiphany) and how it binds families and neighbors together in shared community responsibility.
By educating attendees, the project transforms from a simple holiday gathering into an active cultural preservation workshop that builds empathy, regional unity, and mutual respect among diverse neighbors.
3. Core Event Elements & Programming
The celebration is designed as an immersive, highly engaging experience organized into four main activation zones:
A. Interactive Arts, Crafts, & Cultural Activities
Children and families will participate in hands-on workshops designed to reinforce the educational themes of the day. Activities include:
Custom Crown Making: Children will design and decorate their own Three Kings crowns using recycled materials, gems, and markers, learning about the traditional iconography of the Magi.
Shoebox Decorating: A dedicated craft station where youth can decorate traditional boxes to take home for the holiday eve, keeping the tangible heritage alive.
B. Live Performance & Traditional Music
Music is the heartbeat of cultural identity. The event will feature local and regional folk musicians performing traditional holiday genres, such as Parrandas and Aguinaldos. These performances will not only provide dynamic entertainment but will include brief introductions explaining the specific acoustic instruments used (such as the cuatro and maracas) and the storytelling nature of the lyrics.
C. Culinary Arts & Fellowship
Food brings communities together. Attendees will partake in traditional refreshments, including authentic Rosca de Reyes pastry and hot cocoa. This segment emphasizes hospitality and fellowship, allowing families from all backgrounds to sit down, converse, and build social capital in a welcoming environment.
