1era PROMESA DE REYES DIGITAL.

The wooding carvings of saints is one of the oldest popular Puerto Rican traditions. It is very common in the Promesa de Reyes for participants to bring figurines of the Three Kings, like those in the picture, to the ceremony. Image taken by Wilma Colón. Used with permission.

In Puerto Rico, as well as in other Latin American countries and Spain, January 6 is the Día de Reyes or Day of the Kings, a tradition which celebrates the Epiphany — the Three Kings or Wise Men visiting the new born baby Jesus.

For Puerto Rico, the holiday has great cultural importance, given that in the past this was the main day of celebration during the festive period. It is so important, in fact, that in Puerto Rico they coined the verb reyar, which means to go out in groups asking for donations or gifts.

The Three Kings are traditionally known as Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. In Puerto Rico, these are also the names given to the three stars forming Orion's Belt, which is visible on the northern hemisphere during the winter months.

Those who are particularly religious celebrate the tradition of the Promesa de Reyes or Kings’ Promise. Dolma Irizarry describes it in a Facebook post as follows:

La Promesa de Reyes es la costumbre de invocar a los Santos Reyes Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar, para su intervención en un momento de necesidad, para la solución de alguna situación que está fuera de su alcance. A cambio de la petición concedida, quien celebra e invita, hace un pacto o compromiso de pagar esa promesa.

The Promesa de Reyes is the tradition of asking the Three Kings, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, to intervene in a moment of need, or for help in a situation which is out of your control. In exchange of a granted wish, you must make a pact or promise to the Kings.

The Promesa de Reyes resembles a ritual in the Catholic Church known as the rosario cantado, a musical custom of alternating song and prayer.