The Three Kings
The excitment is building for the the children in Spain and their letters to the 3 Kings will be written and sent over the next few days.
The 3 Kings tradition or Los Tres Reyes, is based around the 3 Wise Men who followed the star to the new King of Kings, baby Jesus and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The children choose their favourite King to send their letter to, Melchor, Gaspar or Baltsar and like the UK tradition, it is said that naughty children will only recieve a piece of coal! Somewhat like the UK tradition of Father Christmas, the children will be making sure they have been good boys and girls and will have written their wish list of gifts. The Kings will deliver the gifts on the night of the 5th January when the each child leaves some food for the Kings and a drink for the camels and a shoe by the door where their gifts will be left. The day of celebration will be the 6th of January which is a bank Holiday here in Spain, and families will gather together for a meal of celebration.
One of the highlights of this celebration is the calvacade of the 3 Kings on the evening of the 5th January. In towns throughout Spain the children will take to the streets to have sweets thrown for them by the 3 Kings. This spectacle usually consists of 3 floats, each one carrying a King and his entourage; around the floats will be musicians and dancers and, as the cavalcade winds throughout the the streets the madness ensues with tons of sweets being thrown at the children (and adults) to collect.
The cavalcade for the Duquesa area usually starts in Castillo at approximately 5.30 pm, before moving to Sabinillas and ending the journey in Manilva town at about 8.30 pm.
Remember to take a bag for all the sweets you will collect!!
Happy Kings!!
