Celebrating the 12th Day of Christmas (Jan 6) Guatemalan Style!

The Louisville Latin Family group celebrated Three Kings Day as is customary in Guatemala and other Latin American countries. Over 30 families with children adopted from Guatemala, Honduras and other surrounding countries gathered at Kazoing Party & Play to celebrate the end of the Christmas season. It is customary for the children to dress up as the kings, decorate a shoebox and leave fruit, straw and water for the kings and their camels. The Three Kings bring presents for the children at night, this is the equivalent to leaving cookies and milk for Santa.

There is also a King cake that is shared among family and friends after the traditional meal of tamales and the like. There is a plastic baby baked into the cake, this represents Jesus and the need to find him a safe place so he would not be killed by King Herod’s soldiers. Allie got the piece with the baby in it but was too shy to celebrate by acting as queen and posing for pictures in front of the entire group. She shared with her friend Abby but in her shyness she chose to pass it on to Jenna who was happy to boast the queens tiara and pose for photos! Can't say as much for the boy who was crowned King. See photos and video below.

Celebrating Guatemalan custom of the 12th day of Christmas where the children leave straw and water for the Three Kings' camels, the Kings leave presents for the children just as they brought to Jesus.