Three Kings Celebration In Belleville Warms Hearts, Inspires Pride

BELLEVILLE, NJ — An annual celebration for Three Kings Day returned to Belleville for 2024 with a special guest: La Befana.

The town’s holiday event took place on Jan. 6, with revelers gathering at Belleville High School for a drive-thru gala featuring candy, gifts, floats, costumes and live camels.

Three Kings Day, celebrates the arrival of Kings Casper, Melchior and Balthazar – otherwise known as the three magi, or “wise men” who visited the infant Jesus, according to Catholic tradition.

This year’s celebration in Belleville also featured a nod to La Befana, an old woman or good witch who brings gifts and candy to well-behaved children on the night of Jan. 5 in Italian folklore.

According to a township news release, it took many hands to make this year’s event come together.

The township deputy clerk, Jacqueline Guaman, who is of Ecuadorian descent, has been one of the driving forces behind the event since 2020, when Belleville hosted its first Three Kings Day. Other volunteers included Maggie Bido, who dressed up as La Befana – and handed out nearly 400 bags of candy to local kids.

“The spirit here tonight is wonderful,” said newly sworn-in school board member Brenda Pacheco.

“It feels like all of Belleville is happy and celebrating Three Kings Day and La Befana,” Pacheco said.

“Just seeing the kids when they roll down the windows and the smiles and seeing the parents, it’s actually touched my heart,” agreed John Celleri from the town’s building department, who arrived to drop off some toys and ended up serving as one of the Three Kings.

“By incorporating La Befana into our annual Three Kings Day celebration, we continue to show that Belleville embraces the cultures and customs of the people who call this town home,” Mayor Michael Melham said.

Deputy Mayor Vinny Cozzarelli also cheered for this year’s event, saying that it “brings out a lot of community pride” in the township.

“What impresses me was seeing the community come together,” said Belleville native Ines Rosales, a traffic anchor for Fox 5 New York.

“My parents are still here and I visit them and it’s great to still be a part of it,” Rosales said.

THREE KINGS DAY

The New Jersey Puerto Rico Commission offers the following background about the holiday:

“In Mexico and many other Latin American countries, Santa Claus isn’t as popular as he is in the United States. Rather, it is the Three Wise Men who are the bearers of gifts and leave presents in or near the shoes of small children. The holiday is also known by the name Epiphany and dates back to the 4th century. A grand feast would be held on this day to honor the occasion of Jesus’ baptism and to pay homage to the Three Wise Men.

“Many believe mysterious events preceded Jesus’ birth with perhaps the most notable being the appearance of the star in Bethlehem. This new star appeared in the evening sky just prior to the arrival of Jesus. Three wise men, or Magi as they were known, whose names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, traveled a far distance to pay homage to Christ. They brought with them fine gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

“Three Kings Day, or El Dia de Reyes, remains an important holiday for Catholics. In addition to gift-giving, there is also a culinary treat that is specific to the holiday. Known as Rosca de Reyes (King’s Cake), this holiday dessert is a symbolic pastry. Shaped in a circle to signify a king’s crown, this sweet bread holds a special surprise. Inside is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token is obligated to host an upcoming party for the occasion Dia de la Condelaria (Candlemas Day) which occurs each year on February 2.”

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