Reyes Magos en España
The Three Wise Men in Spain
The new year is beginning and with it most countries bring their Christmas festivities to an end. Once New Year's Eve is over, it's back to the routine and Christmas is over. In Spain, however, the festivities are not yet over. For Spaniards, there is still one of their most deeply-rooted traditions to look forward to year after year: "Three Kings Day".
Origin of Three Kings Day
This tradition has a religious origin. As the story goes, after the birth of the baby Jesus, the Three Wise Men Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar travelled from the East to Bethlehem to welcome him with gifts. According to the historical scriptures, the Wise Men presented the newborn with gold, frankincense and myrrh. The former as a representation of royalty, frankincense as a symbol of divinity and myrrh as a symbol of humanity.
The truth is that in reality the scriptures do not make it clear exactly who and how many there were, nor whether they were really kings. As for the term "Magi", it is thought to refer to people endowed with great wisdom.
How is Three Kings Day celebrated in Spain?
It all starts a few months before, when children write a letter in which they write down all the presents and toys they want to receive. If they have behaved well, on the morning of 6 January they will find what they have asked for at home. If not, the Three Wise Men, who are very wise and know everything, will leave coal in their place as a lesson for the most unruly. Although we must point out that Spanish children have to be very good, because this almost never happens. And if it does... there is nothing to worry about as it is a sweet punishment, the coal is made with sugar!
The night of Three Kings Day
Although the date of Three Kings Day is January 6th, the festivities begin on the eve of this day. On the evening of 5 January, the main streets of Spanish cities fill up to welcome the Three Wise Men, who arrive in a procession. In the procession, their Majesties ride in floats accompanied by the royal pages as they hand out sweets to the children. It should be noted that this tradition even varies depending on the city in Spain. In Barcelona, for example, the Three Wise Men arrive in the city from the sea, and in Alarilla they are a little more intrepid and arrive by paraglider.
Once the parade is over, you have to rush home and go to bed early, otherwise, if the Three Wise Men find the children awake, they won't be able to leave them their presents. This is not as easy as it may seem, as the little ones are often nervous and impatient for the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
In addition, to welcome them as they deserve, they are usually left some food and drink, such as a piece of nougat or polvorones, so that they can recover their strength. Visiting all the children of Spain in a single night is certainly no easy task.
Three Kings' cake
Without a doubt, the morning of 6 January is the day on which the children of Spain get up most early. They are so anxious to see if the Three Wise Men have visited them during the night to leave them their long-awaited presents that sleeping late becomes secondary. Once they wake up their parents and go to check if the Three Wise Men have indeed come, it's time to open the presents!
Although to start the day of intense games that has just begun, there is nothing better than having a piece of one of the most typical recipes of Christmas gastronomy for breakfast: the Roscón de Reyes (Three Kings Cake). This is a sweet doughnut-shaped pastry that is usually decorated with candied fruit and filled with cream or custard. It also contains a bean and a small figure inside. Tradition dictates that whoever finds the figure will be crowned king and whoever finds the bean will not be so lucky because... they will have to pay for it!
If you want to get to know this and other Spanish traditions first hand (such as Las 11 uvas), Costa de Valencia, Spanish language school, invites you to do so while you learn the language. Don't wait any longer to live a unique experience. Are you up for it?