Brentwood school celebrates Three Kings Day
Assemb. Philip Ramos (D-Brentwood) celebrates Three Kings Day by giving toys to children like Morgan Oliver, 8, at Shepherd's Gate Academy in Brentwood. (Jan. 13, 2012) Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The normal after-school routine of snacks and homework at Shepherd’s Gate Academy in Brentwood was broken up recently by a music-filled Three Kings Day celebration.
Assemb. Philip Ramos (D-Brentwood) attended the ceremony, which was hosted by local Hispanic radio station LaFiesta (98.5 FM).
The hosts of the radio show “El Gordo Y Compania” held a toy drive for the special celebration of the Catholic holiday.
“The vast majority of children were immigrant children, and find themselves far away from their traditions,” Ramos said. “It brought them a little piece of home.”
More than 100 students who attend after-school programs at Shepherd’s Gate were given a toy in celebration of the holiday, which takes place Jan. 6, 12 days after Christmas.
This is the first year Shepherd’s Gate and the radio station have hosted this event, but Ramos said he hopes to make it an annual tradition.
Similar to the tradition of Santa Claus at Christmas, on the night before Three Kings Day children place hay on their windowsills. During the night, the three kings — three wise men — come and take the hay for their camels and leave presents for the children.
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