Celebrated over two days, Spain’s annual Three Kings Festival ( Fiesta de los Reyes) features colourful street parades, a delicious cake with a surprise hidden inside and a vibrant display of brightly illuminated costumes. The 5 th January is an important day in Spain celebrates the end of Christmas with a huge party called the three kings day or the three wise men their names are Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar.. Good kids get presents and bad kids are supposed to receive a lump of coal. The next morning, the previously empty shoe is hopefully filled with and surrounded by gifts, although naughty kids in Spain may be left a lump of coal, just as with Christmas in the U.S. On Christmas Eve, families do host a big family dinner, which always begins with some cured hams and cheeses as appetizers and ends with turrón, a holiday candy made from almonds. Melchior has a white beard and a gold-coloured coat. In Greece, swimming competitions have people dive into the water to retrieve crosses that have been thrown in, which represents the baptism of Jesus. At the end of the parade the three kings, los reyes magos, each have … Malaga regional hospital, particularly the children’s ward, today had a visit from the Three Kings themselves Melchior, Casper and Balthazar, Today January 5 will […] Several regions across Spain have announced new Covid-19 restrictions for the Three Kings' festival and following days. While the holiday season in the U.S. normally ends right after the New Year, the winter vacation in Spain lasts until Three Kings' Day. More than 200,000 people give it a try in Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Sometimes there are also real camels in the parade. The sweets are supposedly just for kids, for whom this annual holiday has become the biggest deal for. Despite this, officially, the Spanish government held the first parade during the Christmas holidays in 1885. Do you want to learn more about the Three kings day in Spain? In others, they've arrived by helicopter. This is the day that families get together for a huge feast, unwrap presents (brought by the Three Wise Men/Kings… As early as December, the ubiquitous holiday cake known as the roscón de Reyes, or kings' cake, starts appearing in the windows of bakeries and grocery stores across Spain. The Three Kings’ Day (el día de los Reyes Magos) celebrates the Epiphany on January 6th, and is the real Christmas Day (celebration wise) for most Spaniards. Los Reyes Magos announce their arrival by means of a six-hour long journey through Seville known as La Cabalgata de Los Reyes . Celebrated most in Spain and Latin America, but also across Europe, “El Dia de los Reyes”, as it’s called in Spanish, marks the adoration of baby Jesus by the three wise men. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the time of King Herod, the Three … The three kings are always features in the Christmas nativity scene – or “Belén” (Spanish for Bethlehem). El Corte Inglés As per tradition, El Corte Inglés will kick off their seasonal sales on January 7th in all their department stores, and discounts will continue right through until the end of February, as outlined on their official website. Hidden inside the cake is also a bean, the unfortunate recipient of which has to buy the Roscon the following year. In Alcoy, old folk and youngsters alike live Christmas and the arrival of the Three Wise Men with special excitement. The Festival of the Three Magic Kings in Spain. MADRID, Jan 6 ― For children, it's the most wonderful time of the year, when Spaniards turn out to welcome the gift-laden Three Kings. Gaspar wears a brown beard and a green coat. The Three Kings Parade in Seville, via Wikimedia Commons. On the evening of January 5th, the three elaborately dressed kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar, make appearances throughout Spain. The Three kings day, in spanish Día de los Reyes Magos, is one of the most celebrated festivals in Barcelona, just as in the rest of Spain.In spite of the fact that the ‘Reyes Magos’ (The Three Wise Men) are said to bring presents for the whole family, it’s the children who are at the centre of attention on this day, so they look forward to it more than anyone! On the twelfth day of Christmas, , we celebrate Three Kings Day! How Spain's Three Kings Festival is Celebrated. Some big towns and cities have Epiphany Parades with each King having a big float that is shaped like a camel. But this year's glittering parades have been torpedoed by the pandemic. Read on to learn more a… Epiphany is one of three major Christian celebrations along with Christmas and Easter. There is abundant eating and drinking and the traditional cake is called the Roscon de Reyes, a circular sweet bread sprinkled with sugar and dried fruits. On the evening of January 5th every year, Spanish towns and cities are given over to the colourful parades of the Dia de los Reyes, or the Kings’ Day – a celebration of the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth. In Mexico, for example, a mile-long “Rosca de Reyes” cake is made to celebrate the holiday. The tradition here in Spain is that Los Reyes Magos, known as the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings in English, bring Spanish children their gifts on the Day of the Epiphany, January 6th. However, the Three Kings are still the primary source of excitement for children in Spain. In Spain, children traditionally receive gifts on Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. Differently from other Christmas traditions, in Spain the most important festival for children is the Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Magos ( Festival of the Three Magic Kings) on January 6, also known as Epiphany. THE 6TH OF JANUARY IN ANDALUCIA Breakfast is a special occasion on January 6th with the Three Kings’ Cake (Roscón de Reyes) the centre of attention. It is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men - Melchior Caspar and Balthazar - to the city where Jesus was born. The Kings throw out candy to the excited spectators, who then rush home to bed so the Kings can visit and leave their presents. The atmosphere is friendly and family orientated – a little like Semana Santa but minus the atmosphere of sombre religiosity – and the parades usually happen early evening so young children can watch them before going to bed. The Three Wise Men flew over Seville in a hot air balloon on Tuesday morning, after traditional street parades on the eve of the Epiphany were cancelled throughout Spain … We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Traditionally, Santa arrives in secret sometime in the night, stealthily sliding down chimneys while everyone is fast asleep. In Italy and Greece, the Epiphany is celebrated in different ways. Just as with Santa, children write letters to the kings and are encouraged to leave snacks for their exhausted camels before going to bed on the 5th. For decades, Santa was a tradition reserved for the countries of Northern Europe and North America, but as U.S. traditions have become more and more widespread, it's not uncommon for children to receive a few smaller gifts on Christmas as well. Each city and town hosts its own parade on the eve of Three Kings' Day, called the cabalgata, to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings into Spain from their long journey. In Spain, jolly old St. Nick takes a backseat to the Three Kings of biblical lore, sometimes referred to as the Three Wise Men in English. Often the Kings (Wise Men) throw out candy to the children watching the parade. Here's a look at some of the main restrictions to take note of. The Cavalcade of the Magi parades are traditionally held in cities across Spain on January 5, the evening before Epiphany, sometimes called Three Kings' Day, with costumed performers riding through the streets on floats, while handing out sweets to children lining the route. The main course varies from region to region and family to family. In Spanish tradition, the Three Kings are given names: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. The Three Kings in the Spanish Epiphany are: A couple of weeks later, on January 6, Spain plays its second-largest lottery of the year, called El Niño. For many Spanish families, January 6th is an important public holiday in which everyone comes together to watch the children unwrap their second load of presents in as many weeks. In Mexico, for example, a mile-long “Rosca de Reyes” cake is made to celebrate the holiday. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Many are the territories that give themselves the title of being the first to celebrate the night of the Three Kings. Many kids also leave out three glasses of warm milk and sweets for each of the kings, plus some hay or grass for their hungry camels. There is a certain discrepancy in the origins of the parade of floats prior to Three Kings Day. Did you know that in Spain children receive their gifts on the 6th of January? Other stores, however, are sticking to Spain's tradition of not starting the January sales until after the visit by the Three Kings on January 6th. It is always celebrated on This is a list of Spanish monarchs, that is, rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. ON January 6, when many children in Spain traditionally receive their gifts, many families enjoy the ‘Roscon de Reyes’, a ring-shaped cake representing a crown. On the morning of Three Kings' Day, after the kids have feverishly opened up all of their gifts, parents sit in front of the television hoping to hear their ticket number called as the winner of El Gordo, "the big one.". Mechanised floats bearing effigies of Melchior (Arabia), Caspar (the Orient) and Balthazar (Africa) – or real life versions of the wise men played by members of the local council – and various other brightly-costumed participants trundle down major streets; as they pass, they throw out handfuls of sweets that rain down on the spectators gathered to watch their grand entry into the town. Getty Images. admin Ceremonies ceremonies, festival, Places. He is said to be King of Sheba and the one who brought frankincense to baby Jesus to indicate His right to be worshiped. Also referred to as the Feast of the Epiphany, this biblical holiday is celebrated each year on January 6 in Spain and many other Spanish-speaking countries. On January 5, the eve of Three Kings' Day, Spanish children leave their empty shoes near the front door or window, hoping to find them filled with treats and presents the following morning. Umbrellas are a traditional way for children to catch the candy that is thrown from the floats in the cabalgata, the parade held on Noche de Reyes, the eve of Three Kings Day. Following routes through the main city plazas, the kings ride trucks, trailers, or floats (depending on the region) tossing candy to children as they ride by. The three kings or wise men perform the same role as Santa Claus at Christmas, so on the evening of the 5th children are supposed to leave a cleaned pair of shoes outside their doors for the nocturnal visitors to fill with gifts. The forerunners of the monarchs of the Spanish throne were the following: In Germanic countries, like Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, Dreikonigstag is the word for "Three Kings Day." The ring-shaped pastry is decorated to look like a crown that a king would wear. This is a sweet bread that is adorned with dried fruits and sugar. Celebrated over two days, Spain’s annual Three Kings Festival (Fiesta de los Reyes) features colourful street parades, a delicious cake with a surprise hidden inside and a vibrant display of brightly illuminated costumes. But given Spaniards’ love of a freebie, you’ll see plenty of adults with upturned umbrellas trying to catch as many as possible, too. The most exciting part of the cake is that two small items are baked inside of it, traditionally a small figurine of baby Jesus and a bean, although they vary. January 5, 2021 13:14 EUROWEEKLY A hospital is not normally where you would expect to see the Three Kings, but it is an important visit for some possibly the most important. In Ireland, the day is known as Little Christmas. If you find the bean, however, it's your responsibility to pay for the roscón. Madrid has a grand, vibrant parade on the evening of January 5, for example.. The fun isn't just limited to Spanish-speaking cultures. The central part of the Three King’s celebration in Seville, and most other parts of Spain, is the huge parade that winds through the streets of the city on the 5th of January. Share735TweetPin17752 Shares In some coastal cities, like Barcelona, they arrive by boat and then continue on to the parade. SPAIN’S first black member of the Lower House of Congress has attacked an Alicante Council video promoting the ‘Three Kings’ which has a white man ‘blacked-up’. Once the end-of-the-year parties are over and the New Year begins, in Spain, the children are still waiting for the most important day of the holiday season. Three kings day Spain – about three wise men in Spain Three kings day in Spain about three kings day On 5 January Spain celebrates the end of Christmas with a great party where everybody gives and receives presents. In Puerto Rico, Ortiz says that the holiday is celebrated for an additional eight days afterwards, known as Octavitas. Read this and thousands of other news stories and articles on thinkSPAIN, the leading English language website for Spain. Three Kings to travel to Sevilla in hot-air balloon this January. The day of the Epiphany occurs on 6 January, and is said to be the day when the Three Kings or Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to give their gifts to baby Jesus. The Three Wise Men are seen during the Three Kings parade on January 5, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. In fact, a 2015 survey by Spanish toymakers association AEFJ showed that the colourful kings, or Magis as they’re sometimes called, are far more popular than Papa Noel amongst Spanish children: 68% said they preferred receiving presents from the wise men, with only 27% rooting for Father Christmas. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", A Kings' Day parade in Granada, Spain; StockphotoVideo/Shutterstock, A Kings’ Day parade in the Andalusian town of Velez-Málaga; Antonio Martin/Shutterstock, More Spanish children prefer receiving gifts from the three kings than from Santa Claus; Free-Photos/pixabay. Learn about the three wise men — Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar — and other Spanish Christmas traditions. Embedded inside is a plastic little king or queen and whoever finds it is monarch for the day, meaning they are entitled to be waited on hand and foot. The Kings march down the main avenue of the city, either on their camels or on elaborate floats. It's a tradition, especially for families, to come out and see the parade. In Spain, epiphany is the main Christmas holiday. Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar are widely celebrated in Spain on Epiphany (Jan. 6), when they are said to have visited the infant Christ with gold, frankincense and myrrh. From Monday, January 4th, new restriction measures regarding movement have … According to Christian tradition, this was the day that Melchior (known as Melchor in Spanish), Caspar (Gaspar), and Balthasar (Baltasar) came to visit the baby Jesus and brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It's one of Spain's most important holidays, not just for the gifts, but also for the massive parade, the national lottery, and the traditional kings' cake. According to the Bible, these three men traveled from around the world to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn Jesus. If you're in Spain during the holidays, you'll have to seek out a slice at a high-quality bakery. Christmas Day is a national holiday in Spain, but despite the country's strong Catholic roots, the day itself has not traditionally been a major day of celebration. In major destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona, the sweet-throwing Kings’ parades attract crowds of hundreds of thousands and are televised across the country, but every Spanish town and city stages some kind of celebration on January 5th. In Spain, he's known as Papá Noel, and arrives on a sleigh with reindeer just as in other parts of the world. After Santa has already visited and left gifts for children around the world, young kids in Spain are still anxiously awaiting the reyes magos to bring them their gifts on Three Kings' Day, or Día de los Reyes. As it is a tradition that has been celebrated in Spain for many centuries, most Spanish-speaking countries in the West also celebrate Three Kings' Day. This is Spain’s oldest parade, held since 1885. By using Learn Religions, you accept our, The History Behind Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico, Guide to Christmas in Italy: Markets, Traditions, and Events, The Best Time to Visit the French Riviera, How to Celebrate Christmas and New Year's in Mexico, Welcome to Juana Diaz, Home of the Three Kings, How to Celebrate Christmas and New Years in Spain, Popular Foods and Sweets on the Christmas Table in Spain, 5 Reasons to Spend Your Next Christmas in Puerto Rico. -- Advertisement -- The Roscon can be plain or have a variety of different fillings and is covered with colourful candied fruit representing the jewels in the Kings’ crowns. In Italy, stockings are hung by doors for the Kings to put presents in. Damian Corrigan is a travel writer who has traveled extensively throughout Spain since moving there in 2003. It's difficult to prepare at home, and the most sought-after bakeries have their stocks reserved weeks before Kings' Day. That might not be such a bad thing though, as some bakeries have been known to bake diamonds and cheques worth thousands of euros into the cakes, as well as mini monarchs and beans. Spanish children write letters to the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, who then bring the children gifts the night before, or on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6th. Even though virtually every family in Spain eats this dessert on January 6, almost everyone purchases a cake. The Three Kings, on the other hand, make a very public entrance with a lot of hubbub. If you're given a slice and find the figurine, it means you'll have good luck for the rest of the year. According to AEMET, there is a 45-50% probability of snow at an elevation of 300 meters above sea level in Sevilla on Three Kings Day. As you're walking through any Spanish city in the days leading up to January 6, you'll see lines at national lottery stores and individuals peddling tickets in the street. Whether or not they were actually kings is up for debate, but their legend of gift-giving has lived on. What’s more, they don’t receive presents from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. On January 5th everyone goes to the city center to watch the parade. In Spain , this day is known as Kings' Day or the Día de Los Reyes, and is celebrated just like a second Christmas, with feasting and … He has written about the country full time since 2006. From Spain to Puerto Rico to American cities like Miami and New York with significant Catholic, Spanish speaking populations, Three Kings' Day is often honored. As it is a tradition that has been celebrated in Spain for many centuries, most Spanish-speaking countries in the West also celebrate Three Kings' Day. In Spain ‘Los Reyes Magos’ - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - play a similar role to Santa Claus in many other parts of the world. 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