In Latin America and Spain, the 6th of January is celebrated as “Dia de los Reyes Magos” – the Day of the Three Wise Men.
Celebrating the Day of the Three Wise Men (Dia de los Reyes Magos)
In Argentina, and in Juan’s family, we put out one pair of shoes in the balcony with a little bit of grass the night before, in exchange for little gifts from the Three Wise Men.
More of a custom than anything religiously-related to the Bible, it is a day when everyone eagerly wakes up to see what the passing Wise Men have left us as presents. This is also the last day before the Christmas tree is taken down and dismantled, the mark of the ending of the Christmas celebrations.
Although most families stop the tradition when the kids have grown up, Juan’s parents still continue the custom, and we look forward to it, as another event and excuse to receive more presents.
In someway, traditions like this keep their childhood alive, a string of remembrance and memories, to a time when they were little and ignorant of the world and its worries.
6th of January, Dia de los Reyes Magos, marks the end of Christmas celebrations
Because this day reminds me of family love, home and childhood, I wanted to share a comforting recipe for a deliciously easy-to-make meal.
Juan’s mum made this the other day, and I fell in love with it at once – for its simple yet rich flavors.
The only difficult part is cutting and peeling the vegetables – the rest is done magically on its own in the pot..
And as the stew cooks over low heat, tempting flavors of beef and vegetables rise and tempt your nostrils, making you salivate as you await the hearty stew..
Hearty beef & vegetable stew simmering in the pot..
A homely dish meant for cold nights, with the entire family huddled around the kitchen table, being nourished by its warmth and hearty taste.
Beef & Vegetable Stew
BEEF & VEGETABLE STEW (Serves 4)
Ingredients:
1) 1.3 – 1.5 kg of cross-cut veal shanks, cut into 6 – 8 cm slices
2) 4 medium carrots, peeled
3) 4 medium potatoes, peeled
4) 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into medium slices (about 5-cm thick)
5) 3 onions, peeled cut into halves
6) 1 small cube of vegetable stock
7) 1.5 litres of water
Steps:
1) Peel carrots, potatoes, onions and butternut sqaush
2) Cut onions into halves and butternut squash into slices
3) In a large pot, bring 1.5 litres of water to a boil
4) Once water is boiling, add all the vegetables
5) Add in cross-cut veal shanks
6) Lower heat and let ingredients simmer in the pot for 1 hour, stirring occassionally
Fresh vegetables:
Cross-cut Veal Shanks:
Once water is boiling, add all the vegetables:
Add in cross-cut veal shanks:
Lower heat and let ingredients simmer in the pot for 1 hour, stirring occassionally:
A closer look:
Would you like a plateful?
Felicia, I fall in love with your posts more and more! Not only do I learn more about you, but I also learn fun facts like this three wise men tradition! Very interesting! I’ve never heard of it before. I am a sucker for traditions, for sure. I feel connected to you in some ways bc I can relate to a lot of your thoughts and emotions. You don’t understand how many times I wish that I could go back to the simpler days, when even though things weren’t so peachy, I was happy. For instance, even though kids made fun and bullied me at school bc I couldn’t speak English, I looked forward to hopping on the car with my dad and my sister, singing the whole way to there. I miss those simpler days…but then again, I’ve gained a lot of wisdom (or so I’d like to think) that can only come with age. Life is good 😉
Min!
Your comment made my morning! Thank you for being so generous in your compliments! I’m really glad you feel connected with the way I think!
And I completely agree with you on traditions – in Singapore, there aren’t many traditions that we still keep, because it is a very young country that is continuously evolving – but where we do keep traditions such as Chinese New Year visiting the family and friends, eating dumplings and mooncakes during certain Chinese festivals, it connects me to back to the past – since its a tradition we’ve been doing forever (or at least since I was born!)
I think everyone’s childhood holds something special for them, and while there may be patches which were not so nice (like an inferiority complex I used to suffer), there were many happy times that I always recall fondly. So I definitely get what you mean about “even though things weren’t so peach, I was happy”.
🙂 Big hug from Buenos Aires!!
It’s sweet to see other families keep little traditions like that alive – my mom still fills up a stocking for me, even though she barely even decorated the house now that they live so far and my brother and I are older. Even if the house is bare, she still manages to bring me a laden Christmas stocking, full of little treats and goodies that remind me of when I was young.
And love this stew!! I think we are in for a long, cold winter in NJ so the more stews, the better 😀
Jess!
Family traditions somehow keep the family remembering the happiness of childhood…the traditions that slip away with time and age, somehow take memories away with them too.
So sweet that your mum still fills up your stocking for you so you get a bag full of presents when you return for Christmas! 🙂 I’m curious, because of your surname, did you parents/grandparents hail from Latin America?
Hope the winter doesn’t get too harsh in NJ!! if not, an even better excuse to cook and eat alot!!
hugs!
Heehee yes I am Costa Rican 🙂 Mom’s Italian but I’m half Latin American on my father’s side
Felicia girl, you had me at veal shanks! Oh my goodness, this looks so good! My mother is the one who makes the delicious beef stew in our home. How I miss it! I loved reading about “El dia de Reyes.” It is a day my family celebrates as well. Last night I called my “tia” in Spain to say, “felicidades.” Alas, we no longer set out our shoes but we still exchange little gifts–mainly in the form of candy or other edibles. My daughter returned to the States yesterday. I sent her off with a bag of “Toblerone” chocolates as her treat! How wonderful to read this post and think of past “Tres Reyes Magos” celebrations! 🙂
Bella!
So glad to hear that you celebrate the “Dia de los reyes” too! Can you believe that the first year I was in Argentina and my bf’s family told me about this custom, I wanted to put out three pairs of shoes so I could get THREE presents?? Ha, I was greedy. I really did end up getting three presents (from my bf, his mum and his dad!)
I’m just curious, where are you based? I always thought u were based in the States, but if your daughter returned to the States (addictive, chewy Tolberone in hand), then I figure you must be somewhere else! Please solve this riddle for me. Too complex for a Monday afternoon!
xoxo!
Felicia, would you believe that not revealing my country of residence is part of the anonymity I cultivate on my blog? I always tell my readers that I am in Europe but never reveal exactly where! ha! I will give you a hint–I am not in Spain or Germany! 🙂
Nice. I like the anonymity card. Ok, here are three guesses: the UK, Sweden or France! You don’t have to tell me which, just whether anyone of these countries make the mark! hehe.
Hi Felicia! This is making me super duper hungry. Vegetable Beef Stew is one of my favorite dishes to make. I have never try it with butternut squash. It looks so good, especially with the beef bone. I love meat on the bone. Wish you could cook for me 🙂
Hello Irene!!
Yes, stews are so lovable because they are just soooo easy to make! Leave them on the pot for a long time and they magically transform into amazingly, nourishing food! I love meat on the bone too – so much tastier than just meat by itself!
Would be so cool to cook together – if Im ever in California or if you’re ever in Buenos Aires!! 🙂