By Claire Davenport
Residents of NYCHA’s Frederick Douglass Houses and other community members gathered Monday evening to celebrate Three Kings Day, the holiday commemorating the story of the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus after his birth.
At the center of the gathering were hundreds of donated toys – gifts for neighborhood children, who zoomed excitedly through the Frederick Douglass tenant association room, decorated with nativity scenes and crowded with piles of toys including footballs, magnetic puzzles, science kits, and a miniature cash register.
“This is our third year coming – we love this event,” said Massiel Hernandez, who attended with her children, Elif and Angel. “You see so many people in the community when you come out,” said Hernandez, who was holding a Flash figurine, two Funko Pop collectibles, and a toy car.
Three Kings Day is celebrated 12 days after Christmas, in remembrance of the men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus.
There was no myrrh at the Frederick Douglass celebration, but after a retelling of the story of the three kings, attendees could enjoy the abundant food, toys, and good cheer – organized by Carmen Quinones, president of the Douglass Tenants Association (her daughter, a caterer, was in charge of food, and one of her sons DJ’d pop and hip-hop classics).
Quinones, who greeted community members in English and Spanish, said this was the ninth Three Kings celebration she has organized at Frederick Douglass. “I started the drive on this day because I wanted the kids in the community to know what the three kings did,” she said. “This holiday is all about giving.”
After seven years as president of the tenants’ group, said Quinones, some call her the “mayor of Douglass.”
“I know everyone in all the [Frederick Douglass] buildings,” population around 3,500, she explained. Attendees at Three Kings Day also included other community figures: community affairs officers with the NYPD; Noreen Lazarus, commanding officer at the NYPD’s 24th Precinct; City Councilmember Shaun Abreu; and State Assemblymember Micah Lasher.
“When elected officials come, I remind them that they have to bring toys,” Quinones said. “I threw Shaun out one year for not bringing anything,” she recalled, with a laugh.
At the end of the evening, Quinones ushered attendees into a line, making sure they took home bags full of canned goods, rice, and pasta, donated by Goya Foods, along with other items, like socks and gloves. Quinones said the association gathered over 500 toys and 183 food bags this year, shared with about 50 families that attended the event. Leftover food will go into the community fridge, and toys that were not distributed will be stored for next year’s event.
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Aww, great story! I always enjoy reading stories about community events at Amsterdam, Douglass, Wise, and other housing communities. Where many neighbors who have lived longest in the neighborhood live, but too often only negative stories make the press. Playground renovations, community gardens, children’s, senior, and sports celebrations, as well as volunteer opportunities, are good to know about .Thanks WSR
so so cool!!
Otherwise known as Twelth Night and Little Christmas. It’s the last day of Christmas.
Yes and no. Twelfth Night is sometimes celebrated on Jan. 6, but usually, it’s on the 5th, especially those who do the math. Epiphany is the 6th and another name for Three King’s Day. It’s more liturgical than biblical. The Three Wise Men is a mostly apocryphal tale anyway, so does it really matter? I eat a galette des rois either way. Right from this neighborhood too.
The night of the 5th is also when Befana, usually portrayed as a good witch, rides around on her broomstick delivering sweets and gifts to Italian kids. The (also apocryphal) story is that the Three Kings got lost on their way to Bethlehem and asked Befana for directions. They invited her to join them on their journey but she declined, having household tasks to finish. Later she regretted that decision and has been making up for it ever since.
(So where in the neighborhood do you get your galette des rois?)