Roscas, Tamales and Cultural Change in BCS

In the 1960s, Paceño families (residents of La Paz) celebrated Christmas pretty much as it is celebrated in the United States. Families had Christmas dinner, went to bed and in the morning the kids were the first up to see what Santa Claus had brought them. Gifts were quickly opened and shared first with other family members, and then with friends living in the neighborhood. For little boys, those who got new bikes were usually the envy of the rest. By week's end, many of the toys were broken or no longer held much interest and life went on.

But for many families on the mainland, Christmas Day was the just the warm-up for the real deal, which arrived on January 6th, Día de los Reyes (Day of the Three Wise Men). In many parts of Spain and throughout Latin America, the real "Christmas" arrives on that day. Kids leave their shoes outside, sometimes filled with grass or hay symbolizing their contribution to the feeding of the animals of the Three Wise Men. Parents place these shoes next to the present(s) corresponding to the owner of the shoe.

In the evening, the families and friends will part a rosca (a type of sweet bread with dried fruit) and perhaps drink hot chocolate or atole. Baked inside the rosca is at least one monito (little plastic figurine about two inches long), which symbolizes Baby Jesus fleeing King Herod's plan to kill all of the baby boys born at that time in an effort to eliminate the future Messiah. You may have seen these roscas for sale during the end of December and the first week of January in many of the local supermarkets

Here's what an ugly (home-made) rosca looks like:


Here's where the tamales come in; whomever "finds" the monito (each person eating the rosca cuts his/her own slice) is suppose to provide all of those present with tamales on Día de la Candelaria, February 2. Far from a punishment, this is considered to be good luck and a privilege. So February 2 is usually the busiest day for people who make and sell tamales commercially (many here in La Paz have a regular location where they can always be found in the early evening hours).

Although many older Paceños haven't adopted the new tradition, the influx of mainlanders have made Día de los Reyes an accepted modification of local culture, as attested to by the number of roscas that are sold locally in the first week of January.


Bottom line: if you are planning to eat tamales this coming Thursday, you'd best be early.

Roscas. They put a little plastic baby in King cakes down in the south US.