Mexican Christmas Traditions - Three Wise Men Celebration - Celebración de Los Reyes Magos

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Three Wise Men Celebration

Celebración de Los Reyes Magos

3 Wise Men celebration  - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

3 Wise Men mural - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and Fountain, moor and mountain

Following yonder star

.........

(We Three Kings by Reverend by Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr.)

"Rosca de Reyes" - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

"Rosca de Reyes" - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

In Mexico, Christmas celebrations are not over yet. On January 6th, we celebrate the Three Wise Men Day (Día de Reyes). The tradition is that three wise men visited Baby Jesus and brought him gifts. For children in Mexico it is a big day and in many parts of Mexico they receive gifts on this day instead of Christmas Day.

Nativity Scene with 3 Wise Men in San Antonio de Padua Church - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

The celebration includes also a reunion where family and friends share a "Rosca de Reyes"  (Wise men bread).

 The "Rosca de Reyes" is a special type of bread with dried fruits on top that is filled with baby dolls who represent baby Jesus, rings and thimbles. Each person has to cut their own piece of bread and search for any of these gifts. The person who finds the Baby Jesus figures should organizes a party on February 2nd. (Candlemas celebration) and serve tamales. The traditions says also that if a person finds a ring in his piece of bread ,they will get married and if they find a thimble they will never get married.

Wise Men

In Barra de Navidad there will be two "Día de Reyes" celebrations for children. The first one is on on January 3rd where a giant Rosca de Reyes will be served, and the second is on January 6th. with a Play "Pastorela" at the church in the "Colonia Ejidal".
You can find "Rosca de Reyes" in different bakeries like Karely or grocery stores like Abarrotes Pelayo.

Traditional Mexican Wise Men Bread. Karely Bakery Barra de Navidad - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

Karely Bakery in Barra de Navidad - Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico - photo: CasaLasMargaritas.com 

Nightlife and Entertainment in Barra de Navidad & Melaque - Jalisco

Nightlife and Entertainment 

Barra de Navidad & Melaque - Jalisco

Live Music Bandidos Band with singer Curtis at Luna & Coyote Sports Bar, Barra de Navidad, Jal., Mexico photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

Banda Loca performing at Ava Restaurant - photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

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The small towns of Barra de Navidad and Melaque in Jalisco even that are small provide good nightlife and entertainment.

 The nightlife and entertainment vary depending on the season. During winter, there are local musicians and bands who perform regularly at the bars and restaurants. There are also musicians and bands visiting from close by cities like Colima and Guadalajara as well as  from Canada and the U.S.  They perform at places like Seamaster Restaurant, Backstage (formerly Rey Momo’s) , Time Out Bar, Puerta del Sol in Barra de Navidad and also at Jack´s Place Restaurant, La Oficina, Viva María Restaurant just to mention some of them.

Raúl González, Ian Hoffman, Hugo Becerra (Grupo Exito) from Guadalajara performing at Backstage (Rey Momos)- photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

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Piper´s Lover in Barra de Navidad

Local Banda loca performing at Ava Restaurant

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Around Christmas time Barra de Navidad gets busier. At this time there are more restaurants offering live music, dancing and entertainment like disco nights at Seamaster’s .

Semana Santa (Holy Week) the week leading up to Easter is the most important Mexican holiday for families , many of whom visit Barra de Navidad  This is also the season when you see many Mexican musicians and bands like mariachi and tamborazo performing in Barra everywhere: in restaurants, on the street or right on the beach.  

Raúl González and The Lavalamps performing at Piper Lover Bar & Grill

Other occasion to see live entertainment is during Fiestas Taurinas and Jaripeo Bailes either in Barra de Navidad, Melaque and Cihuatlán . 

Mike from Main and friends performing at Lucy's Paradise bar in Barra de Navidad photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

Montalvo Band at Ava's Restaurant in Melaque photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

Some of the restaurants and bars offering live music, dancing and entertainment in Barra de Navidad and Melaque:

Barra de Navidad:

• Chicanos Bar Hotel Alondra
• Sea Master Restaurant
• Bésame Mucho Restaurant
• Backstage Bar formerly Rey  Momo     
• Jarro Beach Sports Bar
• Time Out Barra Bar
• Puerta del Sol
• Lucy's Paradise
• Hector's Q Corner Bar
• El Manglito Restaurant 
• Hotel Cabo Blanco 
• Freedom Restaurant

Melaque:

• Jack´s Place Restaurant
• La Oficina
• Viva María (formerly Concha del Mar) Restaurant
• La Salamandra Restaurant in Melaque
• Jaripeo Bailes in Melaque
• Albatros Restaurant
• Bamboo Restaurant
• Mamita´s Disco Bar

Live Music in Barra de Navidad and Melaque Musicians and Bands who Performer regularly during High Season (Oct through April)

Banda Loca performing at Ava Restaurant in Melaque photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

The following are some of the musicians and bands who perform regularly during high season:

• Rabí Hernández – Composer, Guitar player and singer who performs at different locations like Time Out Bar, Bésame Muchi Restaurant in Barra de Navidad.
• Lalo – Guitar player and singer who performs at different locations like la Oficina in Melaque and Time Out Bar in Barra de Navidad.    Youtube Video    
• Montalvo  - He performs at Puerta del Sol Jack´s Place Restaurant.
• Bandidos Band from Colima with singer Curtis - perform at Backstage (Rey Momo), Puerta del Sol, Sea Master Restaurant and some other locations.
• Pineapple Express Piña Express (Raúl, Fausto and some other great local musicians) . perform in Viva Maria, Time Out Bar and some other events.
• Bonnie Gibson & Marco – Singer and guitar player. They perform at Sea Master Restaurant.
• Simone and Mike - They perform at differents locations in Melaque.
• Angelina Sol - Local singer performs at different events.
• Banda Terrence del Terrero Jalisco - They perform during Holy Week vacation in Barra de Navidad. Youtube video
• Mike from Main - He performs at different locations in Barra de Navidad and Melaque.
• Richard and Diana - They perform at La Salamandra Restaurant in Melaque & some other venues.
• Carolina Ramírez  - She performs in some events and Mamita´s Disco Bar
• "Los Compas de Villla" Conjunto Norteño - They perform at different events.
• Chido Rivera Band - They perform in Bogavante Hotel, Time Out Bar, Mamita´s Disco Bar and some other events.
• José Marcial Jiménez - He performs at different venues in Barra de Navidad & Melaque.
• Rick Noble and Cathy - They at different venues in Barra de Navidad & Melaque.
• Hugo Becerra ' He performs at the Backstage Bar and some other venues. 
• Francisco de León - He performs at Bamboo Restaurant every Tuesday and at different events.
• Mauro performs at Lucy´s Paradise
• Frida y Adrian (Adriana y Alfredito) performs at Lucy´s Paradise 
• David Weber "Elvis" performs in Freedom Restaurant. Puerta del Sol, Cabo Blanco Hotel.
• Doug Pettigrew and firends performs in SeaMaster Restaurant, Cabo Blanco Hotel. 
• Darren Johnson performs in Lucy´s Paradise, La Oficina.
• Lavinia myspace lavinianegrete 

You can also join the following group on Facebook to follow the latest events:

- Music In Barra & Melaque

Francisco de León at Concha del Mar in Melaque

'Los Compas de Villa" conjunto norteño performing at Concert for Chynna in Barra de Navidad photo:CasaLasMargaritas.com

Carolina Medina and Danny performing at Jabalines seafood restaurant in Barra de Navidad

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Chido Rivera Band performing at Bogavante Hotel in Barra de Navidad, Jal. - Nightlife and Entertainment

Bonnie Gibson & Marco with Ian at Sea Master Restaurant in Barra de Navidad  - Nightlife and Entertainment

Mike and Simone performing at Vainilla & Pimienta Restaurant in Barra de Navidad  - Nightlife and Entertainment

Grupo Éxito performing at Piper Lover Bar in Barra de Navidad, Jal. Mexico -  Nightlife and Entertainment

José Marcial Jiménez performing at Hector's Q Club Bar in Barra de Navidad

Paul, Curtis and Hugo Becerra performing at the Backstage Bar in Barra de Navidad

Rick Noble, Cathy and Paul performing at The Yukon Barra & Grill in Barra de Navidad

Live Music - Grupo Exito performing at Pi[per's Lover Bar in Barra de Navidad

Live Music - Grupo de Arpa Los Herrantes de Colima performing at Lucy's Paradise Bar in Barra de Navidad

Live Music - Diana and Richard performing at Velero's Restaurant in Barra de Navidad

Local Singer at La Sirenita Restaurant in Melaque