CT HISPANIC FAMILIES CELEBRATE THREE KINGS DAY AS EFFORTS GROW TO MAKE IT A STATE HOLIDAY

 

3 Kings celebration in New Haven. Photo, Boceto Media

LEE ESTE REPORTAJE EN ESPAÑOL, HAZ CLICK AQUÍ

Three Kings Day, or Día de Reyes, celebrated on January 6th, honors the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus and is marked by cultural and religious traditions. 

In Connecticut, the holiday brought support to Hispanic families facing inflation. In New Haven, where 30% of the population is Hispanic, the celebration was organized by Casa Otoñal and local Hispanic groups. 

“Its a collaboration of 4 different agencies in New Haven, and we’ve been planing this for 3 months now”. Elmer Rivera Bello of Casa Otonal said. “But within the last 3 weeks volunteers of a team of about 20 people came and sort out gifts and set up the community center”.

“Today is the largest 3 kings celebration that we had in the 9 years that we’ve been doing it,” Joe Rodriguez President Of Puerto Rican United New Haven said. “We have 600 kids registered to be here today. Many in our community are hurting financially so this may be the only opportunity for kids to enjoy 3 Kings with their families” 

Thanks to generous donations, 600 children in New Haven received presents, gifts that, for many, had been out of reach because of the economic hardship. Nayeli Vazquez, a mother of five from Mexico, has been in line since early morning to collect toys for her children. 

"I was surprised to see this in New Haven. It hasn't been long since I came to this country. I used to live in Danbury first, and they don’t do this there, it's more focused on Santa Claus. This is my first year in New Haven, and I want to teach my children about our culture and traditions." 

In New Haven Public Schools, about 48% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, a community that holds this holiday close to their hearts. 

“And it's important that as adults, we ensure our children to continue to understand our roots and the importance of 3 Kings Day”, Dr. Madeline Negron, New Haven Public Schools Superintendent, said. “The majority of our students are of Latino background, but they come from all over, not only from the Caribbean but also from South America and Central America. It's a nice blend that we have”. 

In Hartford, where the Hispanic population makes up more than 56% of the city, the Día de Reyes celebration was equally moving. Here, the parishioners of St. Augustine Church and a local Hispanic organization worked tirelessly throughout the year to collect 500 presents for children in need. 

Hilda Tejada, a parishioner at the church and originally from Acapulco, Mexico, said it has been a collective community effort to make this possible. "We’ve been gathering toys throughout the year. San Juan Center donated to us. Also, friends, family, everyone, and the church parishioners too." 

In Hartford Public Schools, more than 56% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, underscoring the importance of this celebration in preserving the community’s cultural identity. For many children in Hartford, these gifts were their only Christmas presents due to rising living costs. 

Tatiana Oña, originally from Ecuador, shared that the tough economy has impacted her family, making this the first holiday season they’ve received toys. 

“This was my only Christmas present. I dont have family here but thanks to the Church I was able to receive a present”. 

But the support didn’t stop with children. Hundreds of adults also received bags of groceries to help them through the winter months. 

Bags of groceries were donated to families during the 3 Kings celebration in Hartford. Photo, Boceto Media

As Día de Reyes celebrations continue to grow, so does the call for recognition. Advocates are now pushing to make this cherished day an official state holiday, a recognition of the cultural and religious importance it holds for Connecticut’s Latino communities. 

 “I think we are considering it at the state level, specifically in Connecticut with our large Puerto Rican community making it an official holiday so people can really celebrate and enjoy it with their families as they should”, Senator Richard Blumenthal said. 

“This is being pushed forward by my colleague Chris Rosario and supported strongly, and we’ll work to definitely make sure that it is passed this year.” New Haven representative Juan Canderia said. 

As the movement for recognition strengthens, the celebration of Día de Reyes brings families together in a spirit of unity and hope, even during challenging financial times. It reflects the belief that, despite hardships, families will continue to honor their cultural and religious traditions while looking forward to a future where they can provide for their children and thrive.