Finally! Something Guatemalan!

I consider everyone is this family, American. I consider everyone to be Chinese. And I consider us to also be Guatemalan. Or Guatenesican (or Chinamalican) if you will.

We have tried from day one to make Emmy's Chinese heritage an integral part of our lives. We celebrate two Chinese holidays (though they are Americanized) and will continue to uncover the layers of what being Chinese means not only to Emmy but to us as a unit.

We have been helped in this area by being members of our local chapter of Families With Children from China. They always host large gatherings for the major holidays and also sponsor culture camps and different events through out the year. While we certainly need to find where Chinese culture fits into our own home, it definitely has found a place in our social lives. We are very involved with FCC and have made many friends. We attend a monthly dinner and Emmy has her own playgroup with other girls from China. Aidan and Dave now participate in an FCC Father-Son playgroup (boys of many nationalities but are either Chinese or have a Chinese sibling).

Suffice to say, my sweet Guatemalan boy has been enmeshed into American and Asian "culture". My intentions to begin integrating Hispanic culture and holidays into our lives has been noble, but easier said than done now days.

So finally, our local LFC (Latin Families Connections) held an even for Three Kings Day. Three Kings Days is a holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ child. Three Kings Day is also known as The Epiphany. In Spanish and in South America it is referred to as- El Día de los Reyes.
It celebrated on January 6 th. This is twelve days after Christmas, which represents the twelve days of Christmas.

Our event combined several of the common traditions surrounding the holiday.


Here are Emmy and Aidan wearing some of their Guatemalan clothes before we left the house.

All the kids made paper crowns with jewels. Emmy was very "generous" with her use of glue.

A popular tradition on Three Kings Day is serving the Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits to resemble jewels. Before baking, one or more tiny figures of babies – to symbolize the Baby Jesus – are hidden in the dough. Serving the Rosca de Reyes is a festive occasion celebrated with large groups of people, family and friends, gather to partake in the sweet bread. Each person cuts his or her own slice including children. Whoever finds a baby Jesus is considered the King or Queen of the party and must host an end-of-season party on February 2nd. At our party we had a King and Queen and they were crowned and got to hand out the gifts for the kids.

On January 5th, children put out their shoes filled with a snack for the Three Kings camels. At our party we used a big box. The Three Kings come and take the snack and fill the shoes/box with hay and leave a gift for the children. All the parents snuck in our gifts and then each child's name was called and went to the party King & Queen for the gift. I personally rewrapped two unnoticed Christmas gifts! I couldn't bear to spend more money on presents.


Emmy's favorite part of the party was when we into the Bouncy room for 45 minutes. She was about to pass out from no-nap and was pretty grumpy. All the sudden she was airborne and very happy. Here's Aidan trying for the millionth time to stand-up while his sister jumped behind him.