By David Eck

DAYTON DEANERY — With a Mass in Spanish and gifts for the children, the Catholic Hispanic community in Dayton celebrated the Epiphany Jan. 6 at Dayton’s Holy Family Church.

The church was full and people stood in the back as over 350 attended the hour-long Mass. Three Hispanic men, dressed as the "three kings" or "wise men" who visited the manger following Christ’s birth, processed into the church. They were carrying gifts representing gold, frankincense and myrrh, which the wise men brought to the Christ child.

CT/E.L. HUBBARD

Men dressed as the three kings bring their gifts to the Nativity scene at Holy Family Church in Dayton during the celebration of the Epiphany.

Toward the end of the Mass, holding with tradition, the kings presented the gifts at the Nativity scene in the front of the church.

Following the Mass, families — with plenty of wide-eyed children in tow — made their way to the basement for the three kings celebration.

Unlike the tradition of gift-giving centered around Santa Claus, Latinos give gifts to the children in correlation with the three kings.

Piles of brightly-wrapped presents were on tables in the room, and children lined up to visit the kings and receive a gift. Parents and others snapped photos as the kids unwrapped toys and games.

Magician Henry Borchers donated his time and skills to perform magic tricks and make balloon characters for the children. Having a magician at the event was particularly appropriate because the three kings were believed to be magicians or astrologers, said Sister of Notre Dame Maria Francine Stacy, director of the Dayton Hispanic Ministry.

The event also featured refreshments, and a live band played Puerto Rican and Caribbean music.