The Ring of the Kings

I have written before about the ring-shaped bread, "la Rosca de Reyes", which is traditional for January 6th, the Day of the Magi Kings (known as Epiphany in English).

In the days leading up to January 6th... and even on the day itself... every bakery and supermarket is well-stocked with "roscas", and you will see people heading home with the large boxes.  Alejandro and I planned on buying a "rosca" over the weekend to take back to the family house.  On Saturday we were walking through the "colonia" of San Pedro de los Pinos which is adjacent to the neighborhood where the apartment is.  We passed a very cool store which I have mentioned before.  It sells all sorts of interesting merchandise... mainly organic food, but also embroidered clothing, houseplants, and other things.  It is where I found the beautiful Christmas wreath that I bought for the apartment door.  We saw that they had "roscas" for sale, so we went inside.  The lady was giving out samples to taste, and it was very good... not too sweet, and with a cream filling.  We asked if they would be open on Sunday, and she said "yes".  So, the next day we returned and bought a "rosca".

We took the bread back to the house on Sunday evening,  and we actually cut into the bread and had it for our supper on the eve of Epiphany.

As I have explained before, inside the bread there is a figure of the Baby Jesus.  Whoever gets the figure in his / her slice of "rosca" is supposed to make (or buy) "tamales" on February 2nd, the Feast of Candlemas.  Originally, the bread would have just one figure baked inside, but nowadays there are multiple figures, which I think defeats the tradition behind the bread.  The first person to get the Baby Jesus was Alejandro.

Later, Alejandro's sister and I also found figures in our slices.  But Alejandro's second slice had another "Baby Jesus".  The next day we finished up the "rosca", and Alejandro ended up with a third figure, so I think that he should be the one in charge of "tamales"!