The arrival of the fabled Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar at the place of Jesus' birth continues to be a reason for holiday celebration in many Latino communities, where it is known as El Dia de Los Tres Reyes -- The Day of the Three Kings.

"(The holiday) is still very prominent in the Hispanic community," said Ofelia Escobedo, a community activist and the owner of Lola's Market in Carlsbad. "They don't celebrate it as much here because of Christmas, but it's still well-known in the Mexican community."

Escobedo's employees, hard at work making holiday tamales, heartily agreed.

The festive annual event falls on January 6 and commemorates the arrival of rulers from abroad who had, as the story goes, followed a star to Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn. The holiday is celebrated with food, hot chocolate and a special dessert bread known as Rosca de Los Reyes.

Christmas Eve is considered by many as a time for children to put out milk and cookies for Santa Claus in hopes of reaping fun and tasty rewards. But the tradition among many Mexicans is to fill their shoes with grain or hay on January 5 -- Twelfth Night -- for the horses of the storied travelers, in hopes of receiving a gift in return. It is the kings, not Santa, who bring the toys, the folks at Lola's said.

The colorful bread, baked especially for the occasion, is round, sweet and covered with candied fruit that resembles jewels. Rosca is the term for a circular or round bread, Escobedo said.

The pastry comes in many sizes. A tiny plastic figure is baked into it, representing the infant Christ. Hiding the figure, according to folklore, symbolizes hiding the holy infant from the wrath of King Herod, who had ordered the slaughter of newborns in an effort to destroy him.

When the pastry is served, the person who gets the piece containing the small figure is required to host a party on Candlemas, which falls on February 2 and marks the official end of the Christmas season.

January 6 is celebrated in other cultures as the day of Epiphany -- the baptism of Christ -- or Twelfth Day. People born on that day in Latino cultures are often called reyes, which means king, Escobedo said.

A second-generation American, Escobedo said her family doesn't observe the occasion, but that it's quite popular with new immigrants.

Many Latino bakeries offer the special bread, including Lola's Market, which sells them by the hundreds, Escobedo said.

Contact staff writer Agnes Diggs at (760) 740-3511 or adiggs@nctimes.com.

Rosca de Reyes

(Recipe courtesy of Web-holidays.com)

1 packet yeast

1/4 cup lukewarm milk

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cups granulated sugar

7 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter

Dash of salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon aniseed

1/2 cup raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup chopped candied figs

1/4 cup chopped candied orange

1/4 cup chopped candied lemon

1/4 cup chopped candied cherries

1/4 cup chopped candied citron

1 egg, beaten

Granulated sugar

Dissolve yeast in five tablespoons lukewarm milk and let sit five minutes. Add the flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, the remaining milk, salt, cinnamon, aniseed, raisins and vanilla. Combine and knead into a ball.

Grease dough with some butter set rest and rise until the dough doubles in size, about 2 1/2 hours.

Grease a baking sheet. Punch down dough and knead until soft and pliable. Now form dough into a ring or "rosca." Insert the baby figurine.

Place the dough ring on baking sheet. Decorate the top with the candied fruit. Let the dough rise again until doubled.

Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Bake 40 minutes or until done.

Some local bakeries offering king's bread:

Lola's Market

Carlsbad

(760) 434-2191

Mi Amigo Bakery

Fallbrook

(760) 728-2327

Panaderia Del Valle

Escondido

(760) 871-6000