Inside: Los Tres Reyes Magos lesson plans, Día de los Reyes activities & 3 Reyes Magos reading comprehension in Spanish class. Integrating culture in Spanish class & Spanish holiday traditions lesson
Author – Allison Wienhold
Published – December 9, 2025
Teaching about Los Tres Reyes Magos offers an enriching opportunity to bring cultural depth into your Spanish classroom. Incorporating this topic into your lesson plans not only enhances students’ cultural awareness but also provides a meaningful way to practice language skills through engaging and interactive activities. From learning about the history of the holiday to exploring modern customs, this post will help you create an unforgettable lesson about the Día de los Reyes Magos
When is Los Tres Reyes Celebrated?
Día de los Reyes Magos is always on January 6th. 3 Kings Day is from the Christian holiday Epiphany. This was the day that the 3 Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem. My religious grandmother always waited to add her Wise Men to her nativity set until January 6th.
Even if you are teaching in a public school, 3 Kinds Day is celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries. It is a cornerstone of Hispanic culture and tradition. In some cultures, Los 3 Reyes is when families exchange presents. 3 Reyes Magos is a bigger celebration that Christmas Day for many people. It provides a great opportunity for cultural learning and comparison.
History & Significance of Los Tres Reyes Magos
If you teach in a Christian School, you can introduce students to the historical and religious origins of Los Tres Reyes Magos. Discuss the Biblical story of the Magi who followed the star to Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. My 1st job was the Spanish teacher at a Catholic school and that is when I first taught about Los Tres Reyes. They Loved anytime you could tie your content to religion.
Even if you teach in a public school, you can explain how the story of the 3 Kings story has been adapted and celebrated in various countries. You can use some of the resources below to show how Los Tre Reyes is celebrated around the world in many Hispanic cultures. When I taught the show El Internado, we did a whole lesson related to Los 3 Reyes since that is a focus of an episode.
Celebrations of Los 3 Reyes Across Spanish-Speaking Countries
You can highlight how different countries celebrate Día de los Reyes. For example, in Spain, parades and gatherings are common. I studied abroad in Oviedo, Spain and they had a huge 3 Kings parade. Here are a few more tradtions you can discuss.
- In Puerto Rico, some children leave hay under their beds for the kings’ camels.
- In Spain, the holiday culminates with the grand Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos.
- In Mexico, families gather on the Twelfth Night to share a roscón de reyes.
In come places, people leave out shoes or gifts for the Magi. You can compare this to how some families (mine included) leave out shoes for gifts for St. Nikolas Day on December 6th.
Incorporate Reading Comprehension Skills
Use culturally relevant reading materials, like stories or articles about the Día de los Reyes. These can serve as an excellent tool for improving reading comprehension while exposing students to authentic Spanish vocabulary and grammar structures. Assign comprehension questions that align with academic standards, fostering critical thinking and language practice.
>> Use my Día de los Reyes Magos Worksheet or get the same 3 Reyes Worksheet on TPT
Connecting to Broader Cultural Themes
Expand the lesson by drawing comparisons to similar holidays or traditions from other cultures. You could have students compare if and when they get gifts. This can help students appreciate cultural diversity and draw meaningful connections between their own traditions and those of others.
Los Tres Reyes Magos – Videos for Spanish Class
Please note, most of these videos mention the religious origins of the holiday. Please preview to see if they fit your school culture and population.
Noche de Reyes Cabalgata, Madrid, Spain
An authentic video that shows a Kings Day Parade in Spain. This can also lead to a comparison about the weather in January compared to where you live. (For example, where I live in Iowa there would NEVER be a parade since there is likely snow & freezing cold in January).
¿Quiénes fueron los tres reyes magos? Video
This video is far less babyish than most I have found related to Los 3 Reyes.
Cuentos Infantiles: Los 3 reyes magos
A short story in Spanish that you could slow down & pause to better explain the story of the 3 kings.
Ya vienen los Reyes Magos Video from Pica Pica
A video for young Spanish learners about Los 3 Reyes.
Los Villancicos – Ya Vienen los Reyes Magos
A cute song in Spanish for younger Spanish students about the 3 Kings.
Ya vienen los Reyes
This song has a catchy beat for older students. Make sure to preview it before using.
No Prep Reading Activity for Los 3 Reyes
If you want a short authentic reading in Spanish about “Los Tres Reyes Magos” and the celebration of 3 Kings Day. It is an editable Google Doc that includes vocabulary and discussion questions in Spanish. It would be best with Spanish 2 or Spanish 3 for a one-day interpretive reading, cultural activity.
This Spanish Class 3 Reyes Magos Reading Activity Includes
- ✅ Editable Google Docs that can be assigned on Google Classroom or your LMS
- ✅ Printable Activity option for in-class paper worksheet
- ✅ 1 page reading in Spanish with underlined vocabulary words to lookup
- ✅ 1 page of comprehension questions in Spanish
- ✅ A great one-day sub plan around Winter Break
Why teachers love this Spanish Reading Comprehension about Los 3 Reyes
- ✅ Authentic Spanish Reading & Culture from Spain
- ✅ Easy Emergency Sub Plan for Spanish Class
- ✅ No-Prep, Ready-to-Use – Perfect & easy print 1 day culture plan for before Christmas Break or after winter break
- ✅ No Prep Digital option to be able to post online on Google Classroom, especially for Spanish e-learning days
- ✅ Fun yet, Hits many standards – Spanish Reading Comprehension, Culture & Cultural Comparisons
- ✅ Customizable and Editable: Easily adapt to meet the specific needs of your students or classroom focus.
- ✅ Accessible for Diverse Learners: Ideal for emerging bilinguals, ELs/ESOLs, students with learning difficulties, and those on the autism spectrum.
- ✅ Versatile for Multiple Grades: Successfully used with students in grades 6–12, offering flexibility across middle and high school settings.
- ✅ Student-Approved: Proven to keep students engaged and excited about learning traditions from Spanish-speaking countries.
>> Use my Día de los Reyes Magos Worksheet
>> Or get the same 3 Reyes Magos Activity on TPT
More Resources for this time of year in Spanish Class
- 1st Day After Winter Break for Spanish
- Winter Holidays in Spanish Class
- Black History Month in Spanish class
- Carnaval in Spanish Class
- Valentine’s Day in Spanish class
- mania musical – March Music Brackets
More Resources to Teach about Spain in Spanish Class
- Las Fallas – cultural celebration in Spain in March
- Teaching the novel Bianca Nieves
- El Internado TV Show
- Wish Movie
- Puss in Boots 2 Movie
- Ferdinand Movie in Spanish Class
- Grab Free Ferdinand Character Intro Below
