The Crew

The Crew
Christina, Matthew, Joshua and Katie Grace XiHua

Friday, January 6, 2012

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!! AND HAPPY DIA DE REYES!!!






Today is a day to celebrate the day our Matthew was born!! As I have mentioned on occasion and is no secret, I was married once before. Matthew and Christina's heritage from their dad is Puerto Rican. On this day of January 6th, (which is also celebrated as The Epiphany) in Puerto Rico and many South American countries, they celebrate Dia De Reyes! or Three Kings Day! This day represents the day that the 3 kings arrived to see the Newborn Savior, and they were bearing gifts. In Puerto Rico, Santa Claus was not quite a big deal at all up until recently. He was more a tale and and a stocking might be filled along with a big feast and music was held on Christmas, but Dia De Reyes was the big day for gifts. The children would put a box of grass under their bed for the camels, and the grass would be tossed around the room in the morning and the box filled with gifts!

Well, Matthew was born on Dia De Reyes, his full name is Manuel Matthew Castro. Manuel, bearing his dad's name, a translation of Emanuel meaning "God With Us", and Matthew meaning "Gift From God". So his name fits the feeling of the season and what a gift he is indeed on this day that represents the bearing of gifts for one another!

He is a kind and gentle soul. Helpful and thoughtful and always the one to know when someone needs assistance or a kind word. He is also full of boy energy and often plays outside with his friends all day and loves sports, plays violin, and video games too!

4 comments:

  1. Happy birthday, 13 is a big number, an official teenager. YOu would think after living somewhere I would ahve known about the throwing the grass around the room, very interesting thanks for helping me learn something new today as well.

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  2. Happy Birthday to your gift from God, Matthew!

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  3. Happy Birthday to Matthew! I have friends in Puerto Rico right now celebrating with family. I love hearing about all the traditions!

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  4. Congratulations Matthew!! Wow 13 already!! I hope you had a FUN FUN day!

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