Culture & Community | Arts & Culture | The Hill | Puerto Ricans United, Inc. | Casa Otoñal, Inc. | Three Kings Day
Jarelis Calderon Photos.
The sound of rumbling, rhythmic barriles de bomba were all the Three Kings needed to get up and begin moving their feet. On one side of the room, members of Movimiento Cultural Afro-Continental welcomed the magi, with a sound that could bridge the miles between New Haven and Puerto Rico. On the other, families gathered around tables stacked with toys, setting the tone for a crowded, high energy event. Some waited to snap selfies with the Kings. As Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar began to move, El Centro and Casa Otõnal came alive.
That scene came to New Haven's Hill neighborhood on Saturday, as Puerto Ricans United, Inc., (PRU) Casa Otõnal, the New Haven Hispanic Firefighters Association, and the Ricardo Torres Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund hosted a long-running celebration of Día de los Reyes Magos or Three Kings Day, which commemorates the visit of three wise men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Like in years past, the event provides toys—given out amidst music and amongst community—to local families.
This year, the celebration featured live traditional music from Movimiento Cultural, informational tables and family activities, bringing together residents, volunteers and community leaders. The Three Kings included Marcus Wright, a New Haven firefighter, fire inspector John Martinez, and Casa Otõnal resident Frank Villas.
“People feel safe here, they feel heard here, that’s why people are showing up,” said PRU President Joe Rodriguez, who grew up with the tradition of putting hay out for the Three Kings. “Events like today help us learn that while our culture is inherited, it’s up to us to share it, and to live it. It creates a bond between families, seniors, and children. It touches upon the roots and who we are as a community.”
That goodwill radiated from El Centro’s front door to its cozy interior Saturday, as hundreds of families joined in the celebrations. There early in the day, New Haveners Sandra Martinez and Angel Garcia brought their daughter, Candela Garcia Martinez, for the first time, wanting to experience the holiday and its traditions firsthand. As they marvelled at the event (including a petting zoo and visit from a beloved donkey outside), Candela clutched her stuffed animal tightly, filled with excitement.
“We wanted her to learn about the community and the joy of this tradition,” Martinez said. Though their busy schedules make celebrating at home difficult, they still try to make it a point of teaching Candela about the holiday.
“Even though we’re busy, the Three Kings are still going to bring something to my daughter. It’s important to talk to her so she knows and can understand the celebration,” said Garcia.
Martinez added that events like this help children connect with the wider Latino community across a vast diaspora. “We want her to learn about gathering with friends and family during this season, and to understand the joy of Three Kings Day,” she said. “These events are important because everyone can receive something, have a smile, and enjoy the holiday.”
Ian Cordero, a member of the New Haven Hispanic Firefighters Association, has been a part of the Three Kings Day celebration for a decade. For him, the holiday is a chance to embrace diversity and teach children the importance of giving back, using lessons learned from childhood to adulthood.
This isn’t his first year at the event—Cordero has worked with PRU for 10 years officially and has been involved in Three Kings Day outreach in local schools for even longer.
“It’s always been a mission of ours to give back, especially to children who are less fortunate,” he said. Over the years, he’s watched the event grow in size and impact, now reaching families across New Haven. “Being able to give publicly to everyone in New Haven, not just a small community, has been amazing.”
At home, Cordero celebrates the holiday with his two children, creating traditions like leaving hay for the camels and teaching them about the spiritual and cultural significance of the day. It’s his way of keeping the culture he grew up with alive, he said—and ensuring it travels to the next generation.
“It’s important for kids to see role models giving back to the community, from firefighters and police to politicians and organizers,” he said. “The way forward is to give back, and that starts from top to bottom. It’s much more than just giving toys at this point. It’s about uplifting the Puerto Rican and Latino communities as a whole.”
Celebrating with their son Jairid, parents Summer and Tevon Lewis attended the event for the first time Saturday, after hearing about it in the community.
“I like trying to go to different things around the community and being involved,” Summer said. “It really makes me feel uplifted when I see people doing things for one another.”
Bouncing in his mom’s arms, Jairid was excited to receive a puzzle and immediately wanted to play with it. For Summer, meanwhile, the point of the day was deeper than just a toy: there’s something special about keeping traditions alive by passing down stories. Sharing the history helps prevent division and builds a stronger future for the next generation, she said.
“The more we come together, the more we know each other, and the more you look out for one another,” she said.
“There are so many different kinds and colors of people in the world,” Tevon added. “We can all be one and love each other.”
Rodriguez, meanwhile, expressed excitement about the turnout at this year's Three Kings Day celebration. Despite chilly temperatures, the event drew a record crowd, with more than 600 toys distributed to children and families across New Haven. “The excitement is drowning out the cold,” he said. “New Haven has responded. Despite all the drama in the world, New Haven said, ‘We are here. We are one.’”
For Rodriguez, the holiday is about more than gifts—it’s about community and cultural heritage. Looking ahead, he said he hopes to expand next year’s celebration with more activities, a larger petting zoo, and increased resources. For him, Three Kings Day is a demonstration of resilience and unity.
“Despite the struggles in the world, we can still come together. We are a growing, resilient community. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.” he said.