The Three Wise Men of Juana Díaz, considered in Puerto Rico as saints and who have visited several Latin American countries and the Vatican in Rome, continued their 40th caravan through the island this Thursday carrying “a message of faith and hope.”
The caravan, made up of several floats, visits each town accompanied by live Puerto Rican jíbara music.
“We bring a message of faith and hope from a people who want to share their centuries-old tradition,” said Gaspar upon his arrival today at the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish in Carolina, a municipality adjacent to San Juan, from the San Ramón Donato Parish in Juana Díaz. , south of the island.
Upon arrival at the temple, Gaspar, along with his inseparable marching companions Melchor and Baltasar, greeted the mayor of Carolina, José Carlos Aponte Dalmau, and his wife, and then the priest Víctor Torres and his entourage.
“We come from distant lands to worship for you the god of love and peace,” said Melchior, while Baltasar highlighted that both parishes “hold hands to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
After the messages of the three Holy Kings, Torres took the opportunity to indicate that Puerto Rico “also loves them and wishes them to reaffirm their faith in the god of love and mercy.”
“We Carolinians feel happy about Juana Díaz’s visit to Carolina,” he added.
Torres led the procession to the altar for the holy mass, while a music group performed several songs, including ‘The Three Holy Kings’, and Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar greeted the parishioners and even carried some children and took photos. with them.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the Three Wise Men together with Mayor Aponte Dalmau gave gifts to the children, and then left in a caravan to El Capitol, in San Juan.
The 40th edition of the Three Wise Men’s caravan of Juana Díaz began this Tuesday with the sending ceremony officiated by Father Pedro José Guzmán, parish priest of the San Ramón Nonato Parish.
This year the caravan will visit the towns of Adjuntas, Aguadilla, Barranquitas, Carolina, Guayanilla, Juana Díaz, Lares, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Villalba.
The origin of the Three Wise Men of Juana Díaz dates back to 1883, when the Spanish priest Valentín Echevarría arrived in the Puerto Rican town, who on January 6, 1884 organized the first parade of kings.
The Juanadino Pro Festejos de Reyes Council has been responsible since 1973 for keeping the tradition alive.
In 1985, the first National Caravan of the Three Wise Men was held by Juana Díaz, one of the elements that has contributed most to awakening and keeping this tradition alive in Puerto Rico in recent times throughout the island.
On the other hand, this year they celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Three Kings Festival of Juana Díaz and on January 5 and 6 the Three Kings Festival will be celebrated again in the public square of this town known as the Bethlehem of Puerto Rico.
Some scholars even consider the Three Wise Men as one of the most deeply rooted customs of Puerto Rican culture, which is reflected in the large number of representations by artisans of these historical figures.
