Bushwick’s Hispanic Catholic community braved snow flurries and frigid weather to celebrate the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, on Jan. 7. Hundreds streamed into All Saints Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii to commemorate the visit of the Magi — and in doing so, reinforced a sentiment voiced by Bishop Robert Brennan.
Usually, thousands attend and participate in El Museo del Barrio’s Three Kings Day Parade, wearing colorful capes, crowns, and costumes. This year, a virtual celebration took place without a parade — keeping festivities and traditions alive in people’s homes during one of the most joyous feast days of the season.
The tradition of gift-giving on Christmas didn’t start with Santa Claus, but instead goes back to the Three Kings who traveled from the east to Jerusalem to give baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh.
