My Christmas tree and the Christmas stockings are still hung. See, my grandmother’s tradition was to not remove the Christmas tree until after January 6th. That is the day that the Three Wise Men arrived to see Jesus.   Well, I started the tradition of opening the Christmas stockins on January 6th.a few years back.   In part it was because I still had my Christmas tree up.     One of my Christmas stockings is a Dodger Christmas stocking.

In some parts of Mexico and some other Latin American countries, they open their presents on Dia de los Reyes.   the presents are put inside the kid’s shoes left under the bed.   Prior to the day the kids write their letter to the Three Wise Men.  In Mexico City, they attach the letter to a helium baloon.   Some kids even leave water and hay for the camels that carry the three Wise Men.

On this day also  you can also eat the “Rosca de Reyes” which is a wreath made of sweet bread with yeast,, dry fruit, anise and cinammon.  . Inside the rosca, you will find a little baby doll. It represents baby Jesus but whoever gets the little baby has to host a party on February 2nd _Candle day.

tiny plastic baby Jesus figure are concealed in the dough, symbolizing the hiding of the infant Jesus from King Herod’s troops.

Here is a picture of a rosca de reyes.   .

 Rest in peace Rory Markas.   Rory was a local boy, born here in Chatsworth where I work.  He went to  Chatsworth High, LA Valley College and Cal State Northridge.  When I saw that he lived in Palmdale, I was Palmdale?   that is about 90 miles to Anaheim.

Rory Markas spent 8 seasons with the Angels.   Markas also did broadcasts for the Milwaukee Brewers,  Los Angeles Clippers, USC men’s basketball and Pacific Coast League baseball.

In late 2008, Markas underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain on Nov 1, 2008.   I found this quote he made last year prior to calling the Angels first playoff game:

“Yesterday I happened to turn on the radio and Vin [Scully] was doing the early innings of the Dodger game,  When I heard his voice I said, ‘God, what a treasure this guy has been my whole life.’ I just appreciated what he’s doing, the standard he sets and hope I can do that just a little. I think I get a little more sentimental these days.”

Rest in peace Rory.