Nearly a thousand children jammed James Monroe High School in the Bronx Saturday for the start of the Three Kings Day celebration and toy give-away.
Every child was treated to both a toy and a book bag, thanks to the generosity of numerous organizations led by Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. and his son, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Some of the donor organizations included the Taiwanese mission and other Taiwanese city based organizations, numerous Hispanic organizations and the Police Benevolent Association.
The PBA, both union officials and cops from the 43rd Precinct, and the Taiwanese representatives helped give out gifts to the long lines of children, many of whom are part of this low income working class neighbrhood.
The Three Kings Celebration is the Latino observance of the Epiphany 12 days after Christmas on 6th January and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men, referred to as the Three Kings, who followed the North Star to Bethlehem to bring gifts at the birth of Jesus, according to the Bible. Latino families follow the celebration by showering their children with gifts and celebrating the trek of the Three Kings.
Borough President Diaz recognized that while it was important to bring a smile to the children through the observance of the Three Kings Day, he said it was equally vital to recognize that there is “so much turmoil in the world.”
“Now, more that ever, we hear about hate crimes and our Jewish brothers and sisters are being attacked by people with hate, and people are going at it with each other, committing acts of violence,” said Diaz. “So today, that is what we celebrate here, our heritage and a beautiful holiday.”
Diaz Jr. carried Iesha Acosta, 5, onto the stage to receive her gifts with her brother Alexander, 2. Acosta and her brother were brought there by their grandmother Jocylin Corboran, who carried a photo of her daughter, Josandra Munoz. Her daughter was murdered by the children’s father in March of this year, leaving the children in her care.
“These children now live with their grandmother and they have no parents – and we all complain,” Diaz Jr. sighed.
His father Ruben Diaz Sr. has been sponsoring this event for many years and said it was more important than ever to recognize Latino heritage as unique.
“We are keeping our cultural heritage for the kids, this is a Puerto Rican, Hispanic thing to celebrate the Three Kings, and then we celebrate Santa Claus – but Santa Claus is American culture – the visit of the Three Kings is part of Hispanic culture and so we keep that culture alive. So every year we give gifts to the children, but they are also here to learn about the Three Kings.”
Police Officer Betty Carradero, the Bronx PBA Trustee, said they enjoy giving toys to the children, another way to make positive connections with the community.
“We need the kids to know that we are here for them and not always see us in a bad light the way they’ve seen us,” Carradero said. “The children might think police officers are not good people and they always see the interactions with the bad things that are happening and associate us with being arrested as opposed to thinking that we are all one and we work together. We also approach them to let them know we are friendly and good people and human like everyone else.”
A number of Three Kings events are occurring in New York City on Monday, including the 42ND annual Three Kings Parade that takes place starting at 8 a.m. on 106th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
