Inside, bakers have hidden a small prize wrapped in paper as well as a bean. This is a sweet bread that is adorned with dried fruits and sugar. ![]() The idea is to have them arrive at the stable right on the 6th.īreakfast is a special occasion on January 6th with the Three Kings’ Cake ( Roscón de Reyes) the centre of attention. Some families set up their nativity scene in such a way as to be able to move the images of the wise men closer and closer to Bethlehem over the Christmas season. However, nowadays some families are actually turning to the Christmas tree as the place to pile gifts as the Kings’ spending power grows and shoes can no longer support the weight or volume of the their delivery. ![]() That same night of January 5th children are supposed to leave their shoes out the night before to receive the gifts. ![]() If you take little ones to the parade, be sure to bring along bags to handle the accumulation of little treasures they will certainly want to take home (even though usually these sweets are not very good quality). As their royal magesties parade about town with their entourage of locals smiling and waving from trucks, trailers and even floats (depends on local resources) they dutifully toss out handfuls of sweets to the children waiting in the streets at they pass. Melchor, Gazpar and Baltasar (the African king) are magically able to appear simultaneously throughout this entire land as evening falls on the Iberian Peninsula, and they don’t come empty handed. The truth is that Santa Claus is becoming more and more common, but even families that sign up with “Papa Noel” usually keep their accounts open with the Kings.Īnd as for the Kings themselves, they continue to arrive on schedule every year to villages, towns and cities throughout Andalucia (and the rest of Spain) to make the annual parade ( cabalgata), which usually starts at dusk on the 5th January through the centre of urban areas. They throw sweets and other small gifts to the expectant crowd and are accompanied by music and other performing acts.There is quite a debate across Spain regarding whether Santa Claus is displacing the traditional Three Kings at Christmastime in Spain. From their arrival point, the Kings form a procession through the city, often up to several kilometres. Nevertheless, the principle is the same: the three kings come bearing gifts and their arrival is greeted by thousands of excited children. In Madrid they usually arrive by horse, in Valencia they arrive by boat and in smaller towns they often arrive by train. Unlike the three kings from the Bible, who arrived on camel, in Spain they use alternative methods. The day before the Dia de Los Reyes, just after darkness has fallen, the Kings (Reyes Magos) arrive in each town and city to mark the start of the festivities. The day is nearly as important in Spanish culture as Christmas, especially for children as it is on the Dia de los Reyes that presents are exchanged in Spain. Celebrated on the 6th January, it is of course a festival marking the three kings that brought gifts to the baby Jesus. The Dia de Los Reyes is an important festival in Spain.
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