Throngs of pilgrims are swarming the village of Cajititlán de los Reyes this weekend to manifest their devotion to the town’s religious patrons Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, a.k.a. Los Reyes Magos.
While all of Mexico celebrates Día de los Reyes - the Feast of Epiphany—on January 6, Cajititlán extends the holiday from December 30 through January 8, in tribute to the Wisemen of the Orient and their legendary star-guided trek to Bethlehem to honor the newborn Messiah.
Curiously, the town’s prolonged fiestas usually climax the day after Three Kings Day. Because January 7 falls on a Sunday this year, the major day of the celebration has been pushed forward to Monday, January 8.
That is the date when church guardians will carry the life-size statues of the Santos Reyes out of the church around 10 a.m. for a spectacular procession that winds through main streets for more than two hours. Troupes of ritual danzantes decked out in elaborate costumes lead the entourage. Once they pass by, the devout jam the pathway, crouching down on their knees as the figures of the kings are hoisted overhead, one by one. At the end of the route, the statues are boarded on a trio of motor boats for a cruise around Cajititlan’s neighboring lake. After docking at the waterfront Malecón, porters haul the images back to the church for a festive celebration of the Mass.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.