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Los Reyes Magos, Epiphany Parade
The Los Reyes Magos, also known as the Cabalgata de Reyes Magos, participate in a spectacular and joyous parade across Spain on the evening of January 5th. It is the central event preceding Three Kings Day on January 6th, which is traditionally the main day for gift-giving in Spain, much like Christmas Day in other cultures.
The Three Kings
The holiday commemorates the biblical visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Kings are:
Melchior: Often associated with Europe, bringing Gold
Gaspar: Often associated with Asia, bringing Frankincense
Balthazar: Often associated with Africa, bringing Myrrh
The Parade
Arrival: In many coastal cities, the Kings make an impressive entrance, often arriving by boat before boarding their floats. In other locations, they arrive by horseback or in elaborate carriages.
Floats: The Kings ride on lavishly decorated floats, accompanied by their pages, dancers, musicians, and fellow performers. The floats frequently feature scenes from the Nativity or other fairy tale themes.
Sweets: For children, the most exciting part is when the Kings and their pages toss thousands of kilogrammes of candy into the eager crowds lining the streets. People often hold up upside-down umbrellas to catch sweets.
Letters: Children who have not yet submitted their letters to the Kings (listing their desired gifts) will frequently hand them over to the royal pages during the parade.