Thousands gather at a San Jose bakery for the traditional ‘Rosca de Reyes.’

Mexican bakeries in communities across the United States have been working non-stop for the past 24 hours. Monday was especially busy as it marked the celebration of the Epiphany in Catholic tradition, which commemorates the visit of the three wise men, or kings, who brought gifts to Jesus after his birth.

At the heart of the celebration is the Rosca de Reyes, or King’s Cake. The owner of Mexico Bakery in San Jose described this as an international tradition, attracting people from around the world to enjoy the sweet bread in honor of the three wise men.

Melchor Landin noted a surge in demand over recent years, with plans to sell about 5,000 cakes on Monday. The dough is shaped into a ring, with two or three baby Jesus figurines hidden inside, then topped with soft candy and sugar before being baked.

The key part of the tradition is finding the baby Jesus figure. When the rosca is cut, the person who finds a doll must host a tamale party on February 2, Candlemas Day, which commemorates Joseph and Mary bringing Jesus to the temple for the first time.

This year, however, the tradition faces a new challenge: a national egg shortage has caused difficulties for the bakery owner. Landin mentioned that egg prices have increased by 200%, forcing the bakery to raise its prices.

Despite this, sales haven’t been impacted. Families continue to flock to Mexico Bakery to purchase their Rosca, even at the higher price.

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