Hispanic Traditions Come Alive at Wal-Mart for Three Kings Day Holiday Season

For the second consecutive year, Santa Claus won’t be the only special visitor posing for pictures with children at Wal-Mart. The Three Kings will also be making appearances in select Wal-Mart stores during the holiday season to help celebrate Three Kings Day. As part of this Hispanic-themed holiday campaign, Wal-Mart will also feature Rosca de Reyes (Hispanic holiday Kings Cake) and traditional hot chocolate for its customers.

“At Wal-Mart, we are very proud to be able to support our Hispanic customers in the celebration of their holiday traditions and to offer unique buying experiences that demonstrate Wal-Mart’s support of the Hispanic community,” said Gisel Ruiz, Wal-Mart’s vice president and regional general manager for West Texas and New Mexico.

One special item Wal-Mart will feature this year is the Baby Abuelita doll. The dolls, designed by a Hispanic vendor, are aimed at helping preserve Hispanic heritage for every generation. Abuelita Rosa and Abuelito Pancho sing Spanish lullabies (“canciones de cuna”), which are traditional Hispanic childhood songs.

In addition to the Abuelita Dolls, this year’s holiday toy selection includes an exclusive line of RBD dolls that Wal-Mart developed with Mattel and patterned after the very popular Latin TV and music personalities.

“The Three Kings holiday is a magical time for Hispanic children no matter what country they are from,” adds Ruiz. “We are pleased to be able to help bring these special Hispanic traditions to more and more families, allowing them to save money and live better each holiday season.”

While Three Kings Day celebrations may differ in Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries, Jan. 6 is the universally recognized day celebrating the arrival of the three wise men who followed a star in the night sky that foretold the birth of Jesus. In Mexico and many Latin American countries, Hispanics celebrate the Three Kings who arrive bearing gifts and toys for the sleeping children on the evening of Jan. 5. Rosca de Reyes, a holiday baked bread, is traditionally shared, along with a cup of hot chocolate during the festivities.

This year’s Three Kings Day promotions will take place in select Hispanic market stores throughout the United States, and will run from Dec. 26, 2007 to Jan. 6, 2008.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local United States communities. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmart.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.