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. I had heard stories about La Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos– rumors of old men fighting off small children to snag hard candies, of Spaniards tastelessly painted dark black to portray African characters from the bible, and of overzealous parents who turn umbrellas inside out to catch more candy for their bratty kids. Three Kings Parade in Estepona On the 5th at 11 am in Estepona there is a big children’s party at the fairground, welcoming the Three Kings. As Christmas trees and decorations light up streets and squares, Madrid celebrates everyone’s favourite holiday with a programme packed with cultural and leisure activities. Note: Due to Coronavirus social distancing restrictions the Cabalgata parade did not take place in Andalucia on the 05-01-2021. The Three Wise Men are seen during the Three Kings parade on January 5, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Or why not see the parade in Alcoi, Alicante, the oldest in Spain? Instead, Telemadrid will broadcast the arrival of the Three Kings from the East on television and on Internet at 8.30pm in a special Gala led by the magician, Jorge Blass, which can be watched from home. Don't miss the Three Kings Parade if you are in Fuerteventura in January. It's the last celebration of the New Year period. As well as the excitement of seeing the Kings, children (and their parents) are there for the sweets. The oldest Three Kings parade in Spain has taken place in Alcoy, Alicante since 1885. Umbrellas are always required. 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 Three Kings who brought baby Jesus Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to his stable. The Three Kings’ Parade in Spain is one of the most eagerly awaited activities during the holiday season, especially for the little ones. The Three Kings Parade in Madrid The Three Kings Parade in Madrid is the most anticipated in the whole of Spain and is even televised on channels La1 and Telemadrid. One of the Three Kings, Casper (Gaspar in Spanish), waves atop his float in the cabalgata, the parade held on the eve of Three Kings Day. Hidden inside the cake is also a bean, the unfortunate recipient of which has to buy the Roscon the following year. Petit Palace Plaza Malaga: Three kings parade 5th January 2020 - See 2,226 traveler reviews, 599 candid photos, and great deals for Petit Palace Plaza Malaga at Tripadvisor. The most magical night of Christmas for everyone in Spain, especially children, is the Barcelona Cavalcada de Reis 2020 Three Kings' Parade Barcelona 2020 - times, map parade route Parade date: Sunday 5th January 2020 Parade start at: Av. Like many other town in Spain, Three Kings Parade or in another name "The three wise guys / Amgushs" ( Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos). 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 12th day is also called Epiphany which is on January 6th – twelve days after Christmas. 16:30 - Arrival of the Three Wise Men at Moll de la Fusta, Port Vell; where they will be officially greeted and thanked for their time by the Mayor of Barcelona. https://www.navidadmadrid.com/evento/los-reyes-magos-llegan-a-madrid. In Alcoy, old folk and youngsters alike live Christmas and the arrival of the Three Wise Men with special excitement. 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. It has a large route through Paseo de la Castellana and finishes at Plaza de Cibeles approximately two hours after it starts. 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. Route of the Three Kings Parade in Barcelona. Like many other town in Spain, Three Kings Parade or in another name “The three wise guys / Amgushs” (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos). Good kids get presents and bad kids are supposed to receive a lump of coal. The kings are accompanied by their elephants, camels and attendants. Kings’ Day is celebrated all over Spain, but some of the best parades can be seen in the biggest cities, Madrid and Barcelona . The arrival of the Three Kings is an important event in the Spanish Culture, with festivities taking place in almost any city in Spain. Alcoy’s parades are known as the oldest religious parades in 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. It holds. Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos de Oriente Tenerife (Three Kings Parade) - January 5th, 2021 Usually, there are parades organized in all the major resorts and towns in Tenerife and on the 6th of January there is a national holiday in Spain and most of the shops are closed. 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. I should have known that a parade in Spain would be no ordinary event. There are about 20 beautiful floats, filled with children and adults in nice costumes, who throw candies. After the parade, children go to bed early but excited, to wait for Melchoir, Caspar and Balthazar to come in through the window and leave presents in their shoes. https://www.learnreligions.com/three-kings-day-in-spain-1643112 But given Spaniards’ love of a freebie, you’ll see plenty of adults with upturned umbrellas trying to catch as many as possible, too. In Madrid, the evening of the 5th will include some very special celebrations, with a huge parade bringing the Three Kings from the East, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, to the city centre with a message of peace and solidarity for all. 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. 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. In Spain and some Latin American countries, Epiphany day is called El Día de Reyes i.e., the day when a group of Kings or Magi, as related in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. On the evening of January 5th, the three elaborately dressed kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar, make appearances throughout Spain. The Alcoy celebration includes dozens of children who 'black-up' to represent "negro page boys" who deliver the presents on behalf of the Kings (see picture above). The main Three Kings parades in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao by Hannah Pennell 4th January 2019 0 931 The most magical and exciting night of the year for many in Spain is almost here, with the imminent arrival of the Three Kings on 5 January, when they will deliver presents to sleeping children across the country. Most towns in Spain arrange colorful parades representing the arrival of the Reyes Magos (three kings) to town. The Orihuela Department of Fiestas has scheduled the Orihuela Costa Three Kings parade on 5 th January 2020, for 12:00 noon, unlike previous years, when it has traditionally been held during the early evening, while the Orihuela City parade will remain at its usual time of 6.45pm.. After a few words of welcome by the city’s officials, the ‘ Cabalgata de Reyes ’ (Three Kings Parade), or ‘ Procession of the Kings ’ takes place, during which the Three Wise Men parade through the streets of Barcelona on regal floats, throwing gifts and sweets to the children. ; 18:00 - The parade begins at Avenida del Marquès de l'Argentera and will pass through the following streets: . 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 usual parade from Nuevos Ministerios to Cibeles Palace cannot be held due to the current health situation. Today, many animals are not real, but diaphanous works of art. 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. Alcoy is located in south east Spain. Getty Images. The most magical night of Christmas for everyone in Spain, especially children, is the evening of the 5th January, when the three Wise Men or Kings visit houses and leave presents for everyone. The Three Kings arrive laden with sweets, in all the towns and villages of Spain Fiesta de Los Reyes. Photo: jacinta lluch valero / Flickr We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. features colourful street parades, a delicious cake with a surprise Although Spain has accepted the idea of Father Christmas it’s the traditional Three Kings Parade which creates all … Marques de l'Argentera at park Parc de la Ciutadella Parade start time: 18:00 - 21:30 (6 pm to 9.30 pm) Parade … Three Kings' Night. 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 others take cartoon or traditional themes and there’s lots of music including Spanish Christmas carols. The Three Kings Parade in Malaga has around 14 floats that include the 3 Royal. Paseo de la Castellana (Nuevos Ministerios corner of Plaza San Juan de la Cruz) - Paseo de la Castellana - Plaza del Doctor Gregorio Marañón - Paseo de la Castellana - Glorieta de Emilio Castelar - Paseo de la Castellana - Plaza de Colón - Paseo de Recoletos - Plaza de Cibeles (End of Parade). The celebration starts on the night of 5th January, with a parade called Cabalgada de los Reyes Magos. 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. This parade starts at Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz. 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. The sweets are supposedly just for kids, for whom this annual holiday has become the biggest deal for. For children in Spain, it's the most wonderful time of the year, when the Three Kings or "Reyes Magos" come laden with gifts, but what will the parades look like this year amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Three Kings Parade in Spain Date in the current year: January 5, 2020 January 5 is Three Kings Parade (Spanish name Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos or Cavalcada de Reis Mags), one of the most favorite and beloved festival in Spain that attracts tourists from all over the world. Source. The Three Kings Parade, called Cabalgata, is held every year in Madrid in Spain on Jan. 5. Hundreds of teenagers in Spain wear blackface in Alcoy, Alicante Thousands of teenagers dressed up as royal pages and put on blackface as part of a Three Kings parade in Spain . At 5 pm the Three Kings’ Parade begins and will leave from the Avenida Andalucía, next to the roundabout “Las Columnas de Hercules”. 18:10 - Plaça de Palau; 18:15 - Passeig Isabel II 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 to … The festive parade celebrates the visit of Kings Melchior, Caspar and Baltazar. This is Spain’s oldest parade, held since 1885. A RIGHT ROYAL COCK-UP: Three Kings parade in Valencia draws large crowds despite COVID clampdown Details were kept ‘secret’ but preparations became too obvious to hide By In our first-hand video, we bring you a panoramic view of the Three Kings Parade in Madrid. 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