A staggering 2 million people flocked to the small town of Cajititlán in Jalisco, Mexico, to participate in the annual festival of the Holy Kings Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar. The celebration, which took place from December 31 to January 8, surpassed its previous attendance record, according to the local government. The town, with a population of just 8,000, comes alive every year with hundreds of faithful and tourists gathering to commemorate the traditional feast of the Three Wise Men, a holiday with over 400 years of history.
The festivities include Masses, processions, and a picturesque tour of the lake next to the town. The inhabitants of Cajititlán, who rely mainly on fishing and tourism, use the celebration to pray for a prosperous year and good weather for the region. On January 6th, the day after the children receive their gifts, the images of the Three Wise Men are taken out of the temple and paraded through the town, accompanied by a procession. The images are then boarded onto canoes and taken across the lagoon, where they pour out their blessings on the lake and its inhabitants.
The procession, which lasts about four hours, ends with the return of the images to their sanctuary. Throughout the year, the images of the Three Wise Men, carved in 1587 from mesquite wood, are kept in the parish of Los Santos Reyes. According to local legend, the statues suddenly appeared in the community and have been venerated with great devotion ever since. The festival is a testament to the deep-rooted faith and traditions of the people of Cajititlán, who come together to celebrate one of the most important holidays in the Mexican calendar.