Before going to bed the children place their old shoes under their bed or in the living room, where the Wise Men will leave them their presents. Some also place outside the house, some hay and a bucket with water for the animals, and even some cookies and milk for Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar . With twinkling eyes, the children eagerly, and constantly ask what time it is, wishing for time to fly so they could open their presents . Reluctantly they go off to bed. As soon as they wake up, which is earlier than any other day, they run to see the gifts that the Three Magi left for them.
Happiness overflows every Mexican home.
Meanwhile, adults prepare for the Merienda de Reyes, an early evening dinner that friends and families share to celebrate the Epiphany. Rosca de Reyes People go to the markets and stores to get the needed ingredients to prepare the feast. All over the country, in every city and in every little town, bakeries offer the Rosca de Reyes, an oval sweetbread, decorated with candied fruit. There are Roscas of all sizes, very small ones for two or three people and up to the ones that will delight more that twenty people. The Merienda de Reyes is truly a multicultural event.