Dia de Reyes makes for a special day at Gilcrease

On Saturday, January 4, Three Kings’ Day (Dia de Reyes) was celebrated in grand style at Gilcrease museum. The event known as the Epiphany in European tradition has a special place in the hearts of Christians throughout Latin America, and is an occasion for gift giving and celebration, marking the culmination of the Christmas season.

The actual date of Dia de Reyes is January 6, but that didn’t matter to the more than 2500 Tulsans who took part just a little early in the event that has found its home at Gilcrease for the second year.

Maria Elena Kuykendall is Community Advisor with the Power of Families Project (El Poder de las Familias) of Tulsa’s Community Service Council. El Poder de las Familias is one of the three sponsoring organizations of Dia de Reyes, along with Gilcrease Museum and Casa de la Cultura.

Kuykendall explained that the day is very special to Tulsa’s Latin community.

“Dia de Reyes is a celebration of traditions in our Latino culture that we are so thrilled to share for the fifth year in our community,” Kuykendall told La Semana, explaining that besides the three main sponsors there are other participants whose efforts help make the event possible.

“The procession is put on by a group from St. Thomas More church,” she said. “They normally do this procession in the church, but we provide another venue for everyone to have a window into this rich cultural tradition.”

The Gilcrease event this past Saturday broke the previous year’s attendance record of 2500 with three hours yet to go, and, a Gilcrease volunteer told La Semana, Dia de Reyes is one of the best attended events of any kind held at the museum.

In addition to enjoying the pageantry of the procession, attendees were able to participate in several fun activities, including arts and crafts like the making and decorating of crowns for the kids and the sampling of holiday tamales and, of course, Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings’ Cake), courtesy of Supermercados Morelos.

It was also a free museum day, giving those who might otherwise not have the extra money to visit Gilcrease to get to see the museum’s wonderful ongoing and special exhibitions, including “Mexican Modernism: Revolution & Reckoning,” which the museum describes as “a rotation of works representing a pivotal time in Mexico’s history, from the end of the Mexican Revolution to the middle of the 20th century.”

Families were able to have their picture taken with the Magi, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and other pageant participants, and everyone left with a special bag of treats, which Kuykendall said is another pleasant tradition of the day.

“In our culture we have a little present on Dia de Reyes,” Kuykendall said. “And this is another way we try to be inclusive in all the elements so that all people feel welcome to come and celebrate with us.”

But perhaps the best gifts of all are the happy and inspirational memories that will remain until the next Christmas season. (La Semana)