MEXICO: : Mexican children gear up for upcoming Three Kings festival celebration

Mexico's plazas were filled with excited children having their photos taken and releasing wish-lists attached to balloons ahead of Three Kings day, when they hope the Kings will bring them what they have asked for. Mexicans were out in force on Thursday (January 4) to begin celebrations of 'Three Kings' (day of the Epiphany which falls on January 6). In Mexico, January 6, not Christmas day, is when children receive the majority of their gifts -- to commemorate the arrival of the Three Kings who travelled to Bethlehem bearing gifts for Jesus Christ. Thousands of children and their parents visit Mexico City's plazas in the preceding days to have their pictures taken with the kings and to send off letters to the kings with details of the presents they wish to receive. Giovanni Chavez who was out to see the kings talked about what he was hoping to receive on January 6. "I am going to ask for guardian dogs and a toy motorway," he said. Another child, Kenia Martinez was adamant that she should get what she has asked for. "I have studied, I have behaved well, I deserve it," she said. The skies were awash with balloons as children sent off their letters to the kings - in time for them to go shopping. Every year at this time Mexico City's plazas, streets and markets are filled with toys, with vendors trying to tempt the "kings" into buying the items for the children. This can cause quite a strain on the pockets of some, especially after having spent a lot over Christmas and New Year, as Margarita Gutierrez, explained. "I have a 4 year old girl and an 18 month old baby. My eldest asked for only Barbie stuff. It's quite expensive, but we will buy whatever we can for her," she said. The gifts from the Kings are left under Christmas trees on January 6, a further surprise for the children after the visit of Santa Claus. Whilst this is a happy family occasion, some people are concerned by the increasing commercialization of Mexico's holidays. "Holidays throughout the year are dominated by consumerism. What we want is for all such days, such as friendship day, telethon days, etc. to capture the imagination of the children. That is precisely what Magic Kings day is about," he said. Most children will be oblivious to this argument and make the most of the celebration before going back to school on Monday (January 8).

ITN Source | January 13, 2007

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