Dried fruits on Three Kings' Day, a tradition

Nuts are one of the most common foods in our diet, and historically, they have always been present at numerous events and in many countries. So much so that nuts also have their place on one of the most special nights celebrated worldwide: Three Kings' Day. 

Nuts on Three Kings' Day

Three Kings' Day and its traditional dessert, the roscón de reyes (Three Kings' cake), have their tradition rooted in Roman times. The Saturnalia (in Latin Saturnalia) dates back to that era, which were important Roman festivities where, in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture, a sacrifice was offered in the Temple in the Roman Forum. A public banquet followed, accompanied by the exchange of gifts during celebrations that could last from 3 to 7 days.

They were celebrated from December 17 to 23, by the light of candles and torches, marking the end of the darkest period of the year and the birth of the new period of light, or the birth of the Sun, on December 25, coinciding with the winter solstice. It is possible that this festival was also a celebration because the work in the fields was coming to an end, and after the completion of planting, farmers and slaves had time to rest from their daily toil.

Subsequently, the birth of the Sun and its new period of light were replaced by the Church, which made the birth of Jesus of Nazareth coincide with those dates with the aim of ending the ancient celebrations. Gradually, pagan customs passed to New Year's Day, eventually being assimilated by the Christian holiday universally known today as Christmas Day.

The Roscón de Reyes in the celebration

The rosca de reyes, or Roscón de Reyes, is a sweet circular bun made with a sweet dough and adorned with slices of candied or crystallized fruit of various colors, simulating a king's crown. Over the centuries, the variety of roscones and fillings has changed and expanded, from the most common, which are with cream or custard, to the most creative, which can have chocolate or truffle fillings, puff pastry dough, or even be shaped like a pudding.

In Roman times, nuts were present on Three Kings' Day, as their recipe included, besides figs, dates, and honey, almonds or finely chopped walnuts. Tradition dictated that a dried bean was placed inside the sweet, and the lucky person who found it was named "king of kings" for a short period of time (established beforehand).

Nuts on Three Kings' Day are also a tradition in France. There, the roscón de reyes is called the galette des rois or Couronne des Rois, which is made with puff pastry and can be filled with a cream based on ground almonds, sugar, some butter, and egg yolk. In Portugal, it is called Bolo Rei, and its preparation is distinguished because the dough contains raisins and various nuts (pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, etc.) and Port wine, which sets it apart from the traditional taste of the roscón de reyes.

It is clear that the Roscón de Reyes and nuts on Three Kings' Day are among the most established traditions in the world. Moreover, it is an ideal celebration to try traditional pastries with a multitude of modern variations and a perfect occasion for family sharing.

We are in Bravo Murillo and Plaza de Callao.

At Nutnut, we treat nuts as a flavor proposition enhanced by traditional roasting and baking, which we carry out daily. Remember that we are on Calle de Bravo Murillo, 10 (near Quevedo metro station) and also in the Club Gourmet of El Corte Inglés on the 9th floor of Plaza de Callao. We are the first gourmet nut shop in Madrid, handcrafted following our Lebanese roots and adding more than 20 years of experience. Our specialty is the traditional roasting of nuts, in addition to a careful selection of dried fruits and Lebanese sweets that will transport you to the flavors and aromas of our origins.