Happy Three Kings Day

I like to think of this as Christmas redux. In Italy on this day, children look forward to receiving presents from the old witch La Befana, who declined to follow the Three Kings to Bethlehem but changed her mind and is still trying to catch up with them. Obviously La Befana is older than GPS devices because she's always lost. The nice thing is she leaves presents. In Spanish-speaking countries they celebrate the feast of Los Tres Reyes, the Three Kings, who are also searching for the way to Bethlehem, and on the way, they leave presents for good boys and girls too. Over in France, they exchange gifts and commemorate the kings with a party featuring a round flat cake with a bean in it (la galette des rois.) I think the King cake for the New Orleans Mardi Gras is a descendant of this one, since in both instances, there's something hidden in the cake that makes you the king or queen of the party if you find it. Lately - at least in New Orleans - there's a disclaimer alerting you to the fact that there's something inside that may harm you if you bite on it. Or swallow it! And being ever mindful of lawsuits, some bakers simply include the tiny baby figure as a plastic-wrapped extra. Put it in if you want to, and bonne chance!

For Americans, I sometimes think December 26 is Christmas redux. What is our national pastime on the 26'th? Oh, you know - head for the mall and stand in line to exchange those odd presents you didn't really want, hoping you can actually find the one you waited for. And what was Aunt Mary thinking when she bought you that wrapped up fleece blanket with the sleep shades? And what do you mean, we need the receipt or we can't exchange it? If you're lucky, you can still find something you want. On sale, with coupons on top of that. Shop at Macy's? Lord and Taylor's? Kohl's? Target? Big Lots? Everybody has a sale. Come on down.

Jan. 5 was the release date for my urban fantasy SMOLDER, so this was my own Christmas redux. No special cakes for the occasion, but a happy event nonetheless. In this book, my favorite werewolf hunter Catherine Marais becomes the prey for a change, pursued by France's werewolf pack who finally know what she looks like and what she does. Things get hot and heavy, her family is drawn into the fray, and her vampire lover Ian has to enlist the aid of some of his friends, along with the operatives of the mysterious Institut Scientifique, to lend assistance. Worst of all, Catherine's rebellious teenage niece falls hard for a boy whose family can display fur and fangs, throwing another dangerous element into the mix. Teenagers! This infatuation places everybody at risk and leads to serious mayhem. There are no guarantees anyone will make it out alive this time.

Happy Three Kings Day and Happy New Year to all!

Melina Morel
http://www.melinamorel.com