Celebrate Three King’s Day in Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, Christmas is not over until a visit from the Reyes Magos, or Three Kings.

On the night of January 5, children fill shoeboxes with fresh grass from the garden and place them beside their beds or Christmas trees. The smells of pernil and pasteles, music fills the family rooms, as excitement builds for the arrival of the tres reyes.

By morning, the grass will be gone, with some scattered around the house and presents waiting to be opened.

Celebrated on January 6, Día de Reyes, or Three Kings Day, is one of Puerto Rico´s most cherished Christmas traditions. If you visit during this time, you can experience parades, traditional Puerto Rican food, local art, and a holiday custom passed down through generations.

Family enjoying a canoe near Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the holiday season.

Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico: What to Know

When: January 6, with traditions beginning on the evening of January 5
What it celebrates: The arrival of the Three Wise Men, known in Spanish as the Reyes Magos
What is the tradition: Children leave shoeboxes filled with grass for the Three Kings' horses before going to sleep
Where to celebrate: Juana Díaz is one of Puerto Rico´s best-known destinations for Three Kings Day, while towns across the Island host their own events
What you will experience: Parades, live music, artisans, Boricua holiday food, and the Three Kings arriving on horseback
What to eat: Pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles, tembleque, arroz con dulce, and coquito
Before you arrive: Events schedules vary by town and year, so check the local events calendar before your trip

Wooden carving for Three King's Day — Three King's Day is celebrated on January 6.

The Tradition of Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico

The celebrations begin before the Three Kings arrive!

On January 5, children cut fresh grass and place it inside a shoebox. The box may go under the bed, beside the Christmas tree, or somewhere the reyes and their hoses can easily find it.

While the biblical Three Kings are often shown traveling by camel, Puerto Rican tradition commonly pictures them arriving on horseback.

Children go to sleep knowing that sometime during the night, the Magi will visit. By morning, the grass has disappeared, and gifts are waiting.

Learn More about Día de Reyes

Traditional Puerto Rican Christmas dishes like pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles, tembleque, and arroz con dulce featured on the holiday menu. — The holiday menu in Puerto Rico includes local favorites like pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles, tembleque, and arroz con dulce.

Join this Holiday Celebration

Whether you are on the Island or at home, you can recreate the Three Kings Day traditions with your loved ones. Just place the grass-filled box on Three Kings Day Eve and open presents on the morning of January 6th. And, like most Puerto Rican traditions, the celebration is not complete without a big family gathering full of music like parrandas and lively conversation. Of course, you can't leave out the signature coquito, pitorro, and a festive menu that includes holiday favorites like pernil, arroz con gandules, tembleque, and arroz con dulce. If you're on the Island, plan to enjoy one of the many special events taking place across different municipalities.

Learn how to make a Puerto Rican Holiday feast

Three Kings Day Events

Each January 6, Puerto Rico bursts with color and joy for Three Kings Day, and nowhere is the celebration bigger than in Juana Díaz — home to the Island’s most iconic parade. There, the Magi arrive on horseback, leading a lively procession filled with music, dancing, and gifts for children. Families gather early to enjoy traditional food, local artisans, and the vibrant sense of community that defines the holiday. Across the Island, towns like San Juan, Isabela, and Ponce host their own festive parades and concerts, proving that the spirit of Día de Reyes shines bright in every corner of Puerto Rico.

Hit play and dance your way into paradise!

Artistic Representations of Puerto Rico's Holiday Season

Los Reyes are important figures in Puerto Rican art during the Holiday season and year-round. Local artisans carve tallados out of wood, make ceramic representations, and are often used as figures on paintings and mosaics. Fondly enough, the Puerto Rican Magi are often depicted riding horses instead of camels. They're also the subject of some local holiday songs, one of them even stating that children on the Island don't have enough time to play with the presents the Magi bring them before school starts back in January.

The Museo de los Santos Reyes is the first museum dedicated exclusively to the history of Three King's Day.

Visit the Home of the Three Kings

Although the biblical stories specify these Magi arrive from the Orient following a star, the Magi in Puerto Rico helm from the south of the Island, specifically from the town of Juana Díaz. Every January 6th, the municipality hosts the longest-standing and most visited Three Kings Day festival on the Island, celebrated for over 130 years.

There, you'll find local artisans, food stalls, and lively music. However, the festival's main attraction is the arrival of the Magi of Juana Díaz riding horseback and leading a parade through the town. They hand out presents and candy to all the children at the festival and become part of a huge "block party." If you're arriving after this day, you can still visit the Museo de los Tres Santos Reyes, a place dedicated exclusively to the history of these figures.

Explore the South Region

More Holiday Season Festivities

The holiday season is not over after Three Kings Day! January 7th marks the beginning of Las Octavitas, and leads up to Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, which starts a new cycle of festivals throughout the year.

Holiday Festivals in Puerto Rico

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