FORT WORTH, Texas —
Through the doors of Panadería Don Goyo in Fort Worth, the sweet smell of pan dulce filled the air.
Large ovens blasted busy bakers with warmth.
For owner Greg Orduño, Friday, which was Three Kings Day, or Dia De Los Reyes Magos in Spanish, was his busiest day of the year.
“It’s non-stop,” Orduoño said.
The bakery, or panadería, he and his family has run for 17 years prepared 12,000 Rosca De Reyes, or Three King’s bread.
The round cake, which is made with Mexican sweet dough, is a tradition on Jan. 6 and part of a Latin tradition that honors when the Three Kings found the newborn Jesus. The bread is sliced and dispersed among family members, and whoever finds a plastic baby Jesus in their slice will host a family gathering on Feb. 2, Candlemas, or El Dia De La Candelaria. The Candlemas gathering usually involves tamales and other traditional Mexican dishes.
"Everybody’s coming in,” Orduño said. “It's for everybody.”
Three Kings Day is also celebrated during Mardi Gras, which began on Friday. Although the holiday is celebrated by various cultures around the world, it holds a similar meaning.
This year, Orduño saw a 20% increase in demand for his roscas, but for him, it’s not about the money. He told WFAA he believes post-pandemic gatherings and a wider observance of the holiday has led to increased demand.
“Honestly, this is a family business,”Orduño said as he teared up. His wife and children, who also work in the panadería, surrounded him.
“My father told me how to do this, so it just keeps going... I don’t think about the money. It's just more than that. This is the only thing that I know how to do."
Through the years, he has passed down his passion for baking, and the family business is going strong.
His son, Carlos Orduño told WFAA they’ve worked long hours over the last four days, which is when the rosca-making process began. By Friday evening, he was exhausted but said he still looked forward to cutting their own rosca as a family.
"I’m appreciating it, because you never know when it’s the last time with somebody,” Carlos said.
Friday evening, the bakery’s parking lot was filled with cars that showed up in droves. Crowds of all ages poured in to take home a fresh rosca.
It’s the young customers that give Orduño hope.
Decades ago, he questioned whether the Rosca De Reyes tradition would last. As he watched young children exit the bakery with cake boxes, he smiled, knowing the tradition he cherishes will live on for generations to come.