14 Comments

That’s such a beautiful tradition! In the traditional liturgical calendar (the one that the Latin Mass uses today), the Christmas season doesn’t end until Candlemas. Like your grandmother, my family and I keep all our Christmas decorations up through Candlemas. It’s an excuse to enjoy them for longer and it’s keeping traditional Catholicism alive, so I consider it a win all around.

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Well, my grandma was born way before 1962 so, story checks out.

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El roscón de reyes, hehehe... :)

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Walther, help! I host a liturgical ladies (& laddies) group, and we're meeting for a very belated Epiphany gathering. I'm making a rosca, of course, and I have two questions:

1) May I print out your post (with citation) for folks to take home & reference? (Absolutely no pressure)

2) Can you recommend a main dish that would be traditional in Mexico on Epiphany? I'd love to explore that!

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1. Absolutely.

2. I'd say either tamales or pozole would be appropriate.

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Phenomenal. I usually do the same cake every Twelfth Night, but you have me sold on this!

Do you have atole on Candlemas? I do love the extension of the Christmas season through Candlemas, but by the time Epiphany comes here, I'm ready to start paring down the decorations & such a bit. The Nativity stays up till February, though!

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You certainly can have atole on Candlemas. I personally prefer to eat as many tamales as I can. My MIL is in town and I already asked her if she can make some for us LOL

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Well played, sir!

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Thanks for this detailed background Walter! In our part of Mexico (or perhaps just certain ppl we know?), the finder of the baby Jesus has to make or buy tamales for Candlemas. Have you heard of that variation? I prefer the corn husk to (southern style) banana leaf type.

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Yes! I failed to mention that. I'm from Monterrey, and that's the agreement in my family at least. I do prefer tamales in corn husks, however I have had tamales oaxaqueños a number of times, and I wasn't disappointed.

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1. Yes

2. Yes - and still 🤭

3. It depends these days as to whether I feel like going through Candlemas or the Baptism, because I'm the only one who puts away the decorations in our house. 🙃

Thank you for writing about Rosca de Reyes! I always look forward to this tradition. I have a friend whose birthday is Jan 6, so his parties always include the rosca.

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Please tell me your friend is named after one of the three wise man.

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Actually no. His name is not even Rey. It's Daniel. 👑 🙃

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Ah man, lost opportunity.

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