3 Kings Celebration Saturday

January 6, 2011 at 7:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Three Kings Celebration will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Hall, 3660 Shirley Road.

The Parranda (Spanish Christmas carolers), will arrive at 4 p.m., and the kings will arrive at 4:30 p.m. with gifts for children age 1 to 13.

Three Kings Day is a celebration that commemorates the biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.

For many Latinos, the Epiphany or El Dia de los Reyes is a holiday focusing on children when they receive gifts symbolizing those given to Jesus by the three kings.

Other rituals children take part in include filling a decorated shoebox with grass for the camels and writing letters to the three kings, much like children who leave cookies and write letters to Santa Claus.