EL DÍA DE LOS REYES MAGOS

Today is Día de Los Reyes, also referred to as Three Kings' Day! The holiday commemorates the arrival of the three kings, known as the Three Wise Men or Reyes Magos, in Bethlehem to worship the newborn Jesus Christ. The holiday is celebrated in Mexico, parts of Central America, Puerto Rico and Spain every Jan. 6.

To celebrate, La Esperanza Bakery in Sacramento bakes Rosca de Reyes, a traditional holiday bread made especially for Three Kings' Day. It's usually served 12 days after Christmas, which marks when the three kings brought Jesus presents. The bread is made in the shape of a ring to represent a king's crown and the eternal love of Jesus.

Inside the bread, a small figurine representing Baby Jesus is hidden for someone to find. The person who finds it then hosts a party known as Día de la Candelaria, or the Day of the Candles. It's celebrated 40 days after Christmas to commemorate the entrance of Baby Jesus into the Temple of Jerusalem. Nowadays, it's believed that the person who finds the baby Jesus figurine when they cut into the bread will have good luck and fortune. 

Curious to see how the bread is made? Check out the process HERE. 

WE HAD OUR OWN CELEBRATION IN THE NEWSROOM AND...

John Bartell, our travel reporter, found the figurine in his slice of Rosca de Reyes bread! What a coincidence, since he reported on the bread making process at La Esperanza!

WINTER STORM RESOURCES

Northern California continues to face a series of deadly storms, which most recently led to at least three deaths in the Sacramento area alone. Many were left without power and hundreds of trees were down with the flooding. With more rain expected this weekend and next week, state leaders and experts are warning of more flooding and power outages. At ABC10, we stand for you and want to make sure you have all the information and resources you need to prepare and get through the storms.  We created an easy-to-use resource guide that will help you track the storms and outages, as well as provide other crucial flooding resources and contact information to get help. We will continue to add resources to this guide as we come across useful tips and weather updates. You can access our guide HERE. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Neighborhoods that suffered from redlining in the 1930s face twice the risk of flooding today, according to data collected by Redfin. In the greater Sacramento area, that includes Gardenland, Tahoe Park, Oak Park and Upper Land Park. The greatest risk of flooding comes from creeks and neglected infrastructure. Read more about how those disparities exist HERE.

Watch our series about how race covenants shaped Sacramento neighborhoods HERE.

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED IN THE STORM

Katherine Martinez was a beloved mother, the "rock of the family" and willing to help everyone. She was on her way to help her son on Sunday when she got stuck in the New Year's Eve storms. Chris Martinez, Katherine's brother-in-law, told us she called her nephew to tell him she was stuck in the water before her phone lost battery. The family immediately called 911, but answers didn't come until days later when her family found her car in high water in a ditch at New Hope Road in Galt. 

"I was about 40 feet from her car, and we walked into the street, where the water was by the wayside, and I called 911," said Chris Martinez, Katherine's brother-in-law. 

Martinez told us no one should have to go searching for a loved one during a storm, and now, he's asking for answers for law enforcement's slow response.

The Sacramento Sheriff's Office, who responded to the 911 call along with the California Highway Patrol, told us in a statement: "We want to ensure her family that the sheriff's office and our regional partners are trying our best to help all members of the public during this crisis the best we can." You can read the full statement HERE. 

SOUTH SACRAMENTO CHURCH IMPACTED BY FLOODING

A group of volunteers jumped into action when weekend storms quickly flooded the South Sacramento Christian Center's sanctuary floor. Pastor Les Simmons told us they pumped out more than 700 gallons of water and had to cancel their first Sunday service of the new year. 

"It was a big deal to cancel the first service of the year," Simmons said. "We would traditionally come in and set the tone for the rest of the year. It's a big deal for us to do that." 

Now, the church is looking at $20,000 in repairs and is asking for any help. As they continue clean up, Simmons said he's hopeful they'll be able to open their doors back up for Sunday service this weekend. If you wish to help, you can find out how HERE. 

THE LEGACY OF OSAKA-YA

Across Northern California, there are only two Japanese confectionaries left- one of them is right in downtown Sacramento. Osaka-Ya is a century-old shop that specializes in mochi (sweet rice cakes) and manju, especially around the new year. When ABC10 visited the store, the Center for Sacramento History brought a sweet surprise to the store's owner – a replica of the store's original sign. Read more about the rich history of Osaka-Ya HERE. 

GET TO KNOW US!

Over the year, our newsletter community has grown, so in 2023, I want to take the time to re-introduce all the folks who help us bring community-driven stories to you! In the newsletters ahead, I'll be introducing different members of our Race and Culture team and ABC10 staff one by one. Let's meet Sabrina first!

Hi! My name is Sabrina Teresa Sanchez, I'm the engagement producer for the special projects team. I helped develop and launch the Race and Culture team in 2021. I lead audience engagement initiatives — including text messaging, crowdsourcing, and community outreach — to help build trust with diverse audiences, and pitch and produce community-driven stories that serve Northern Californians. I love local news, community organizing and I'm proud to be from Stockton, California.

Outside of work, I like to curate my pug's IG page and go salsa dancing!

What are your 2023 resolutions? Let us know!

A new year doesn't always have to mean a new start! But if you do have any goals this year you would like to share with us, this is your chance. Here are some of our resolutions to get you started or even inspire you to form your own!

"This year, I want to explore new (more active) hobbies, such as dancing, and also become a better plant owner!" -Katie

"My resolutions for 2023 are to volunteer more and learn to love vegetables!" -Sabrina

What are your resolutions? Email me at kkim@abc10.com! I would love to hear from you :) 

What's a Race and Culture story you want to see on your local news? Send your suggestions and feedback to kkim@abc10.com