“I don’t accept gifts from perfect strangers – but then, nobody’s perfect.” Zsa Zsa Gabor

Growing up during the holiday season in Habana, Cuba, as a kid you looked forward to Enero 6 – El Día ​de los Reyes Magos​. It was on this day you’d wake up with gifts magically appearing at the foot of your bed. Christmas was celebrated as Noche Buena (the 24th), spent with family and friends with enough food to feed a battalion.

In Cuba, food was rationed and restricted (la libreta), but would magically appear in large quantities at Noche Buena. Christmas Day was spent recuperating from the night before. Besides, there were no chimneys in Habana for a fat man in a red suit to slide down. So we always looked forward to the Reyes. I still have vivid memories of those exciting mornings.

January the 6th is a special day in most of Latin America. “Three Kings Day” is also known as the Epiphany, dating back to the 4th century. The day marks the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas. It commemorates the three wise men, or Magi, who traveled from afar, following the star of Bethlehem to present gifts to the infant baby Jesus. A grand feast is held on the Epiphany to honor the occasion of Jesus’ baptism and to pay homage to the Magi.

We were invited to a grand feast, a Reyes Magos Celebration, hosted by our friends, Lezlie and Linda, at Lezlie’s charming village home in Ajijic. They provided a traditional Mexican meal of pozole, a hearty homemade spiced-up tomato soup, rosca de reyes sweet bread and hot chocolate. My modified vegetarianism went out the door as the smell of the pozole lifted me magically by my nostrils upon entering Lezlie’s festive home.

​Pozole​ is a tasty, rich broth of pork, beef or chicken cooked with either a red, green chilies or left as a simple broth, and cooked with hominy and other spices; it’s then served with a selection of toppings: finely chopped radishes, onions, lettuces, cilantro and jalapeños.

Before selecting toppings I tasted the delicious broth alone. My mind then quickly sped into overdrive as I debated how many bowls could I devour?! The dish is very filling, plus I had to leave room for the rosca and hot chocolate.

​Rosca de Reyes​’ (King’s Cake) … this holiday treat offers much in the way of symbolism. Shaped in the round to signify a king’s crown, this sweet bread holds a special surprise. Baked inside is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token is obligated to host an upcoming party (atole and tamales) for the occasion of “Día de la Candelaria” (Candlemas Day), occurring each year on February 2nd. Luckily, with a sigh of relief, we didn’t cut pieces of the bread holding the baby.

Christmas decorations came down this week ~ what a difference living in Mexico makes with the extended holiday season. In the States everything was put away no later than the 26th by noontime.

Ending the week’s events was the celebration of David’s birthday ~ for just six days every year we are the same age … his was a more quiet affair dinner with our friends, Arvada and Cheryl. Arvada brought along a big sombrero and a Mexican sarape for David to wear and pose in. What a sport! The wait staff arrived bearing chocolate birthday cake (complimentary) and singing ​Las Mañanitas,​ the Mexican birthday song.

Earlier that morning David defied chalking up another year with a short, but vigorous hike with several friends up to the chapel on the mountain. From there one gets a glorious view overlooking Ajijic and Lake Chapala. I sat this one out.

​On the Menu …​ Pasta alle Vongole (Pasta with Clams) with enough garlic in it to be vampire-free within a 500 kilometer radius; Mahi Mahi Encebollado served with elote and poblano rice; tostones; Shrimp Pad Thai(nicely season but worlds away from the original version); a luscious Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake by baker Dave and finally, jam-packed burritos stuffed with yummy leftovers.

We are off to ​Cerro Pelon​​,​ one of the three Monarch Butterfly winter sanctuaries tucked away in the highlands of Michoacán State.