In the Mexican culture, Rosca de Reyes is a traditional sweet bread enjoyed with family and friends on Kings Day’s morning. Celebrated on the 6th of January (also known as Epiphany Day), Kings Day celebrates the three wise men who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus. Almost like a second Christmas, young children will receive gifts from the three kings on the morning of the 6th. In anticipation, little ones will stuff their shoes full of hay and leave them out overnight as a gift of food for the kings’ horses.

Rosca de Reyes itself (also known as Kings Cake) is a sugary bread shaped like a wreath. “Rosca” means wreath, and “Reyes” means kings, so directly translated, Rosca de Reyes means King’s Wreath. Traditionally, the oval-shaped cake is beautifully decorated with brightly colored candied fruits, representing the kings’ jeweled crowns. Rosca de Reyes is usually served with a hot chocolate or warm drink such as coffee or atole.

Perhaps most importantly, Rosca de Reyes isn’t ‘real’ Rosca de Reyes, without a figurine of a baby Jesus baked inside. Each friend or family member cuts their piece of cake, hoping to receive the slice with the figurine hidden inside. If you cut the slice that holds the figurine, this is considered good luck. Plus, the person who finds the figurine is designated to throw a fiesta and provide tamales on Día de la Candelaria, which falls on the 2nd of February.