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’. In Italy and Greece, the Epiphany is celebrated in different ways. This is Spain’s oldest parade, held since 1885. What’s more, they don’t receive presents from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. 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. More than 200,000 people give it a try in Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Often the Kings (Wise Men) throw out candy to the children watching the parade. The main course varies from region to region and family to family. He has written about the country full time since 2006. 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. Getty Images. Do you want to learn more about the Three kings day in Spain? If you're in Spain during the holidays, you'll have to seek out a slice at a high-quality bakery. 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. Even though virtually every family in Spain eats this dessert on January 6, almost everyone purchases a cake. 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. 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. 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. Melchior has a white beard and a gold-coloured coat. It's difficult to prepare at home, and the most sought-after bakeries have their stocks reserved weeks before Kings' Day. 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. 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. Share735TweetPin17752 Shares 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. According to the Bible, these three men traveled from around the world to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn Jesus. It is often topped with glazed fruits, representing the colorful jewels on a crown, and sometimes filled with whipped cream. 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. 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. More than 200,000 people give it a try in Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Los Reyes Magos announce their arrival by means of a six-hour long journey through Seville known as La Cabalgata de Los Reyes . The Three Kings, on the other hand, make a very public entrance with a lot of hubbub. 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. Three Kings to travel to Sevilla in hot-air balloon this January. Hidden inside the cake is also a bean, the unfortunate recipient of which has to buy the Roscon the following year. Some big towns and cities have Epiphany Parades with each King having a big float that is shaped like a camel. The three kings are always features in the Christmas nativity scene – or “Belén” (Spanish for Bethlehem). The ring-shaped pastry is decorated to look like a crown that a king would wear. In Spain ‘Los Reyes Magos’ - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - play a similar role to Santa Claus in many other parts of the world. A bakery in Madrid features its traditional Rosca de Reyes breads for sale in anticipation of Three Kings Day. Learn about the three wise men — Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar — and other Spanish Christmas traditions. 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. The Festival of the Three Magic Kings in Spain. 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. Several regions across Spain have announced new Covid-19 restrictions for the Three Kings' festival and following days. In Puerto Rico, Ortiz says that the holiday is celebrated for an additional eight days afterwards, known as Octavitas. He is said to be King of Sheba and the one who brought frankincense to baby Jesus to indicate His right to be worshiped. 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. At the end of the parade the three kings, los reyes magos, each have … 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. 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. 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. 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. It is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men - Melchior Caspar and Balthazar - to the city where Jesus was born. 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. Many Spaniards love their holiday lottery, and the holiday draw right before Christmas Day is considered to be the largest lottery in the world based on total payout. 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 … 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 […] However, the Three Kings are still the primary source of excitement for children in Spain. 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. Damian Corrigan is a travel writer who has traveled extensively throughout Spain since moving there in 2003. If you find the bean, however, it's your responsibility to pay for the roscón. Did you know that in Spain children receive their gifts on the 6th of January? 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. The Kings march down the main avenue of the city, either on their camels or on elaborate floats. 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. -- 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. 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. There is a certain discrepancy in the origins of the parade of floats prior to Three Kings Day. In Mexico, for example, a mile-long “Rosca de Reyes” cake is made to celebrate the holiday. Sometimes there are also real camels in the parade. The Three Kings Parade in Seville, via Wikimedia Commons. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. 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.". In Greece, swimming competitions have people dive into the water to retrieve crosses that have been thrown in, which represents the baptism of Jesus. Read on to learn more a… In Spain, children traditionally receive gifts on Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. Gaspar wears a brown beard and a green coat. 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. 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. In Spanish tradition, the Three Kings are given names: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. On the evening of January 5th, the three elaborately dressed kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar, make appearances throughout Spain. 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. 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. In Alcoy, old folk and youngsters alike live Christmas and the arrival of the Three Wise Men with special excitement. This is a list of Spanish monarchs, that is, rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. In others, they've arrived by helicopter. It's a tradition, especially for families, to come out and see the parade. 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. 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 January 5th everyone goes to the city center to watch the parade. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. The Three Kings in the Spanish Epiphany are: In Italy, stockings are hung by doors for the Kings to put presents in. 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