The Three Kings make annual appearance in Holyoke

Date: 1/11/2022

HOLYOKE – Outside of El Mercado, there was a line of about 100 people waiting to celebrate a Latinx Christmas tradition, Three Kings Day, on Jan. 5.
Inside, staff members of Nueva Esperanza, Inc., were ready with the three wise men, tables with neatly arranged piles of presents and food.

Cynthia Espinosa, the executive director of Nueva Esperanza explained to Reminder Publishing this was the 22nd annual Three Kings event they have sponsored. The organization had worked with three elementary schools in the city to identify participating families and had registered 217 children, but she expected that closer to 300 children would be present.

The organization was mindful of the pandemic with a limited number of people allowed inside at any one time, temperature checks at the door and masks required. Espinosa said the organization conducted one last year but on a much smaller scale.

Lights, music and air-filled decorations made the event festive for the participants. Parents were allowed to select a gift appropriate for their child.
Mayor Joshua Garcia came with volunteers to help put on the event.
The event marks the Epiphany when the three wise men visited the infant Jesus.

Espinosa explained in a written statement, “During this Día de los Reyes, we are grateful to celebrate with our community one of the most traditional holidays in Puerto Rico, in which families come together to welcome Los Reyes Magos with a box of shoes filled with hay and water for the camels.

Our team at Nueva Esperanza is looking to create a safe magical space and place for the families visiting us during the event, especially due to the impacts and challenges of COVID-19.”

The event was co-sponsored by Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, Compass Church, Holyoke Food and Equity Collective, Holyoke Medical Center, state Rep. Pat Duffy, EforAll Holyoke, A Caring Heart Nursing Services LLC, Ward 2 City Councilor Elect Wilmer Puello and Providence Place.