The Guadalupe–Reyes Marathon is a fabulous example of Mexico’s uniquely joyful—and deeply religious and cultural—holiday season. Beginning on December 12th (Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe) and ending on January 6th (Day of the Three Wise Kings or Día de los Reyes Magos), this unofficial “marathon” is just one long holiday with a mission, a non-stop celebration that blends religious tradition with family, food, music, and a goodly amount of drinking stamina.
The start and end of this marathon are rooted in Christian tradition, but what happens in between is a whirlwind of parties, parades, and punch (both the fruity and piñata-smashing kinds).
A Celebration of Endurance and Joy
What began as a culturally grounded tradition has taken on a life of its own in recent decades. The Guadalupe–Reyes “marathon” has become a pop culture term in Mexico that challenges participants to attend every event and enjoy at least one type of alcoholic beverage daily from start to finish. (Whether or not you succeed depends on your endurance and your liver’s patience.) 🫠 💃 #fiestastamina
As Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy would say:
"Today Mexico celebrates the longest holiday in the world… Guadalupe–Reyes. That’s 3 weeks of steadfast drinking and unyielding tomfoolery. Buckle up, amigos. See ya in 3 weeks.”
I’ve always loved a party, and for years, I’ve fully committed to seeing it through. But today is January 3rd, 2024, and at the tender age of 51, I’m not sure I’ll make it all the way to the finish line this year. But that's neither here nor there. 💃 🍺 🥂 📅 👵🏻
Let’s Talk About Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day)
This post is really about tying the season together with the final, beautiful bow that is Three Kings Day. If you would like a full breakdown of the significance and traditions of El Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe, please refer to our previous blog post here!
You probably know the Three Wise Men from nativity scenes, but what I didn’t learn growing up (even with a Presbyterian minister for a mom!) is that they weren’t actually there the night Jesus was born.
According to biblical scholars, the Magi saw the star in the east and traveled—on camelback, no less—for several days to present gifts to the newborn King. In fact, it likely took them a week to arrive, which makes January 6th a fitting date to commemorate their journey. In Mexico, this day—Día de Reyes—is a huge deal, especially for kids. It’s actually the biggest gift-giving day in many households!
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The Cake, The Baby, The Tamales
No Día de Reyes celebration is complete without Rosca de Reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread topped with dried fruit and hiding a tiny plastic baby inside (representing baby Jesus). If you’re the lucky one to find the baby in your slice, congrats—you’re on the hook to bring tamales for Candlemas (Día de la Candelaria) on February 2nd, which honors the presentation of Jesus at the temple.Yes, the holiday season in Mexico is long, vibrant, and full of joy. And yes, it circles back to the Virgin Mary in beautiful symmetry. We might just have to write another post about that.
All things Virgen de Guadalupe and Los Reyes Magos are beloved and honored through February 2nd. If you’re in the mood to celebrate Mexican-style, check out our green, white, and red papel picado banner 2-pack and 4-pack sets — perfect for the December festivities, Mexican Independence Day in September and Día de los Muertos ofrendas in early November. That is some serious décor multitasking!
Handmade Mexican party banners with La Virgen de Guadalupe.Final Thoughts (and a Toast)
So here I am, exhausted, festive, and holding on for dear life. To all of you celebrating—cheers! May your holiday season be filled with joy, and may you experience the magic of Guadalupe–Reyes at least once in your life. Maybe just do it before you turn 51.
To summarize:
- Posadas represent the 9 days and nights that Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem
- Epiphany is the same as 3 Kings Day and it is 12 days after Christmas
- In reality, it only took the Kings one week to get to Jesus, but Christians chose the '12 Days of Christmas' instead - Not to be confused with Advent 🤷♀️
- Dia de Reyes/Epiphany is the beginning of the pre-fast period before 'Lent' which winds us into yet another holiday...CARNAVAL / Mardi Gras! (Ha--you thought I was going to say Easter, didn't you?!)
