Juan Cruz Avilés
Puerto Rican, born 1919
The Three Kings on Horseback / Los Tres Reyes a Caballo, 2000
Polychromed wood
3 works, each roughly 10 1/8 x 2 ¾ x 8 ½ inches
Lent from a private Florida collection

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Three Kings—Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthasar—traveled long distances from the East under the guidance of a star in order to venerate the newly born Christ Child in Bethlehem. They are traditionally portrayed to reflect their origins from diverse points on earth including Africa, Asia and Europe. In Puerto Rico, they are usually shown riding horses, probably because camels were unknown to early artisans. Following the Puerto Rican folk art tradition, Melchor, the dark-skinned king mounted on a white horse, points ahead to signal the way to Bethlehem. Their feast day, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, is celebrated throughout Puerto Rico on January 6. In many communities the kings are still honored with the traditional velorios de reyes (vigils to the kings), aguinaldos (Christmas carols), rosarios cantados (sung rosaries), and parrandas (processions with singing and musical accompaniment).