Merida’s giant rosca is ready for 3 King’s Day

Thousands enjoy the hotels’ rosca de reyes, but only 250 will find a toy inside. Photo: File

Merida, Yucatan — The 23rd annual “Rosca de Reyes Grande del Sureste” is expected to bring more than 3,000 people the hotel zone for a slice of the traditional ring cake.

The charity event brings together rival hotels who collaborate on the giant 2.4-kilometer-long version of the loaf enjoyed by the faithful this time of year.

The Hyatt Regency, Fiesta Americana, Holiday Inn, Presidente Intercontinental and El Conquistador are organizing the event.

The event on Avenida Colon, between the Fiesta Americana and the Holiday Inn, will start at 5 p.m. and last until 10. Music and children’s shows are on the agenda.

The rosca de reyes will yield 20,000 servings, 250 of which will have a tiny baby Jesus figure buried inside. Anyone who’s slice has the figurine can exchange it for toys or meals at one of the hotels.

The celebration is a Mexican tradition that takes place after Christmas to mark Three King’s Day, also called the Epiphany, which celebrates the biblical appearance of the wise men in Bethlehem. It’s officially celebrated Sunday, Jan. 6., although the days leading up to it can also bring celebrations.

A piece of rosca de reyes costs 30 pesos, including a refreshment. Servings are large enough to share, organizers say.

This year’s beneficiaries of the event are the Caimede Board, for the Fiesta Americana Mérida; Home of Loreto, for the Hyatt Regency; the Single Mother Care Center of Yucatan, for the Holiday Inn; Pastoral del Amor, for the Intercontinental President-Villa Mercedes; and Elda Peniche Foundation, for El Conquistador Hotel.

About 150 workers are preparing the rosca de reyes, using more than 13,500 eggs, 270 liters of milk, 2,150 kilos of flour and 620 kilos of candy fruit.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the participating hotels and the beneficiary associations.

Pastoral del Amor will deliver orders of 20 tickets or more. Call 999–924-5899 or 999-127-4521. 

Read More