While most of the world has already started packing up the Christmas decorations, throwing away the tree and finding a place for the Christmas gifts, the Spaniards are still celebrating. In fact, Three Kings day (Los Reyes) is the most important day in the life of a Spanish child, in effect replacing Father Christmas (until recently when Santa has become more popular).

The 6th January is Epiphany or the twelfth day after Christmas ending the medieval festivities called twelfth tide as celebrated in Britain. This is also the day that Mechior, Gaspar and Balthasar arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts for the baby Jesus! On the evening of the 5th January every Town and City in Spain will have a procession where tons of sweets are thrown from the passing floats. Parents encourage the children to write to the Three Kings with their present requests, much the same as other children around the world write to Father Christmas.

One of the most enthusiastic Los Reyes parades in Spain takes place in Malaga with the Three Kings arriving by boat in Malaga Port followed by hundreds of floats passing through the city streets well into the night. The whole event is covered on live television and most of Malaga turns out making a very electric atmosphere. Before going to bed, the children will leave milk and biscuits next to the Christmas tree for the Three Kings and some water for the camels. They also leave their best pair of shoes in a visible spot, or on the balcony, to be filled with presents. In the morning, 6th January, the children awake to see how many presents they have received. If they have been good, they will find lots of good things but if they have been naughty, they will find coal in their shoes. These days the coal is actually made of sugar and is often put as a joke to scare the children, but some time ago it was actual coal.

During the morning, all the family enjoy a piece of Roson de los Reyes, which is a large ring–shaped bread tasting similar to hot-cross-bun mixture. This special cake is sold all over Spain the week before Three Kings but is also made by the woman on the morning of the 6th while the children play with their toys. It is usually decorated with candied fruits to symbolise the emeralds and rubies on the robes of the Three Kings. Inside there is usually a surprise and the person who finds this in their portion will have good luck for the next year. Tradition also means that the person finding the gift should be crowned King or Queen for the day in that household.

Spain has many of its own unique traditions but this has to be my favourite and the most fun. Look out in your local paper for the times of the Three Kings procession in your Town or City. Even if you don’t have children or they are now grown up, it’s well worth going to see the faces of the children and the sweets.

Happy Three Kings