The tradition of el Dia de los Reyes Magos in Puerto Rico is part of the legacy left from our Spanish past. Puerto Rican Christmas festivities traditionally begin on December 24 and end on January 6. The 24th is referred to as Noche Buena (or Holy Night), the night when Jesus was born. Celebrations are extended through the New Year and end on Three Kings Day, January 6th. The Three Kings celebration is also called Epiphany (Epifinia). When Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States, islanders adapted the Santa Claus as a well as that of the wisemen.

In the Christian tradition it is believed that the times when Christ was born (2,000 years ago) in a region called Palestine, there were three wisemen (magos) who were thought to be wealthy ancient scientists. They were told to look for a big star in the sky as a sign that Jesus Christ, who was believed to be the King of the Hebrew people,, had been born. the names of the Three Kings were Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar. Once they had discovered the star the wisemen traveled on camels from the Orient to find Christ in Bethlehem and bring him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh as a way to thank hime for coming to the world. Because there are no camels in Spain or Puerto Rico, the Spanish conceived the Kings traveling on horses, rather than camels. As giving wisemen who didn't care that Jesus was born in a simple stable, Los Reyes are understood as symbols of generosity and humbleness.

There are several ways in which Puerto Ricans honor these three royal figures. Artesanos who are santeros, or craftsmen of saints in Puerto Rico, are artists who carve figures into wood representing different holy figures, including the Reyes Magos. Many Puerto Ricans pray and sing to the Kings. Some families set up altars for the Kings during the holiday season and burn incense, one of the presents brought by the Kings. To remember and pay homage to the wise men many songs are written in their honor during the holiday season in Puerto Rico. One prominent example of this occurs in the campo or country side, where groups gather to do rosarios cantados de Reyes or rosary prayers to the Kings which are accompanied by aguinaldos (Christmas caroling) dedicated the the royal men. The children are taught to find a shoe box, fill it with grass and hay and leave it under their beds (or under the Christmas tree) the eve of January 6th. During that night the children sleep lightly, waiting for the sounds of the camels' hooves or the whispers of the wise men, as they pass through the children's homes bearing their gifts. The Three Kings, tired from a long journey to find Christ, would use the hay to feed their hungry camels, and, in gratitude, the kings would leave a gift for the children in the place where the boxes were left.