In Spain, Santa Claus isn't the star of the show when the holiday season rolls around. Instead, it's the Three Wise Men - or los reyes magos - who take center stage during the winter holidays. They're the ones who bring Spanish children their gifts the night before Three Kings Day in January.

This celebration itself stems from the New Testament where it is stated that the kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthasar, traveled by night all the way from the farthest confines of the Earth to bring gifts to Jesus, whom they recognized as the Son of God.

In Mexico, Día de Los Reyes (known elsewhere as Epiphany) is celebrated on January 6 to honor the Three Wise Men. This holiday represents the day the Three Wise Men (Los Tres Reyes Magos) gave gifts to Jesus Christ, and the day closes the Christmas festivities.

Los Reyes Magos – known as the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings in English – are three men who followed the North Star to the town of Bethlehem to welcome baby Jesus into the world. Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar travelled from a faraway place to gift the Son of God with gold, incense and myrrh.

Three Kings' Day is connected to Christmas. The key difference is that Christmas itself has both a religious and broad secular connotation in culture, whereas Three Kings' Day is celebrated largely by Christians. In Uruguay, which is a secular country, Three Kings' Day is also known as Day of the Child (Día del Niño).

According to the Biblical story, the Three Kings (also called wise men or magi) – named Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the birth place of Baby Jesus. They presented the baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

De los Reyes is a Spanish name of religious origin, meaning 'of the kings', with reference to the Biblical Magi.

This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents.

How Is It Celebrated? Popular traditions during the holiday include gift-giving, large feasts, and indulging in Rosca de Reyes. Rosca de Reyes is a special bread with fruit and sugar that comes in the shape of a crown. Candied figs and cherries symbolize the crown jewels.

What Countries Celebrate Three Kings Day? Día de Los Reyes is celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico and Spain in addition to other countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, France, Poland, and by some Latinos in the United States, especially Puerto Rico.

Holiday History According to the Biblical story, the Three Kings (also called wise men or magi) – named Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the birth place of Baby Jesus. They presented the baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents.