In spite of the fact that the ‘Reyes Magos’ ( The Three Wise Men) are said to bring presents for the whole family, it’s the children who are at the centre of attention on this day, so they look forward to it more than anyone! © 1989 - 2021 Ideal Education Group S.L. Three Kings Day! Do you want to learn more about the Three kings day in Spain? The Three Kings Once the end-of-the-year parties are over and the New Year begins, in Spain, the children are still waiting for the most important day of the holiday season. Did you know that in Spain children receive their gifts on the 6th of January? But parents and grandparents commented on how commercial the cabalgata had become, and how many fewer children attended today. Three Kings Day in Spain and many other parts of the world is celebrated on January 6th to mark the day on the Christian calendar when the magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus. On Christmas Eve, families do host a big family dinner, which always begins with some cured hams and cheeses as appetizers and ends with turrón, a holiday candy made from almonds. Once the end-of-the-year parties are over and the New Year begins, in Spain, the children are still waiting for the most important day of the holiday season. What’s more, they don’t receive presents from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. The rosca (round or oval ring of bread) is baked with a special surprise inside: a small porcelain figurine that represented the Infant Jesus (today a dried bean can be substituted). The Three kings day, in spanish Día de los Reyes Magos, is one of the most celebrated festivals in Barcelona, just as in the rest of Spain. In some coastal cities, like Barcelona, they arrive by boat and then continue on to the parade. The ring-shaped pastry is decorated to look like a crown that a king would wear. Today I am thrilled to have Laura from Mommy Maleta sharing the traditions of Spain for this look at Holiday Celebrations Around the World. They run to the place where they left their shoes to see what gifts they have received from the three kings of Orient. The night before, every city hosts a parade to welcome the Three Wise Men who have just arrived from the Far East. In Germanic countries, like Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, Dreikonigstag is the word for "Three Kings Day." If you're given a slice and find the figurine, it means you'll have good luck for the rest of the year. In Spain, children anticipate Epiphany as the time when they will open the majority of their “Christmas presents.” The Three Kings are believed to visit and leave gifts behind. Just like in Mexico, in Spain people also eat a Rosca known as Roscón. According to the Bible, these three men traveled from around the world to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn Jesus. Privacy Policy, Business Spanish and Chamber of Commerce Exam. The Three Kings, on the other hand, make a very public entrance with a lot of hubbub. It is a date celebrated throughout Latin America, Spain, and in Hispanic communities of the United States. The tradition says that the three kings (also known as the three wise men) had a mission to go to Bethlehem. In Italy and Greece, the Epiphany is celebrated in different ways. When is … This week we are celebrating the last special day before it ends: January 6 in Barcelona is the day of the Three Kings (or the Magi, or the Wise Men, or the Tres Reis Mags, in Catalan) or the Epiphany. All Rights Reserved Go to a Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes) ~ Evening of January 5th. Written by Tim McDonnell www.joyholidayfamily.com In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Though for many in Latin America and the rest of the world, the Christmas season is just now hitting its peak—with the Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day (El Día de los Reyes) on January 6. The fun isn't just limited to Spanish-speaking cultures. Lamb. Many children write letters to the kings on 26 December asking for specific presents. Christmas Day is a national holiday in Spain, but despite the country's strong Catholic roots, the day itself has not traditionally been a major day of celebration. A couple of weeks later, on January 6, Spain plays its second-largest lottery of the year, called El Niño. Three Kings Day On the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6, we celebrate Three Kings Day! He has written about the country full time since 2006. Three Kings Bread . Across the Atlantic ocean, the celebration of the Three Kings’ Day is very similar. The Three Kings' Day or Day of the Magi, also known as Epiphany, is a public holiday. Christmas season is long in Spain! It is sometimes called Three Kings' Day, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas. Many Spaniards love their holiday lottery, and the holiday draw right before Christmas Day is considered to be the largest lottery in the world based on total payout. The tradition says that the three kings (also known as the three wise men) had a mission to go to Bethlehem. Festivities officially start the evening before Epiphany, on the night of How to Celebrate ‘El Día de los Reyes Magos’ (Three Kings’ Day) in Spain 1. They followed a star that showed them the way to see baby Jesus, who had just been born. After Santa has already visited and left gifts for children around the world, young kids in Spain are still anxiously awaiting the reyes magos to bring them their gifts on Three Kings' Day, or Día de los Reyes. Every year, Three Kings' Day is celebrated on January 6th. In Spain, he's known as Papá Noel, and arrives on a sleigh with reindeer just as in other parts of the world. Whether or not they were actually kings is up for debate, but their legend of gift-giving has lived on. Roast lamb is another Castilla y León favourite, but is often enjoyed all around the country as … In Greece, swimming competitions have people dive into the water to retrieve crosses that have been thrown in, which represents the baptism of Jesus. Each city and town hosts its own parade on the eve of Three Kings' Day, called the cabalgata, to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings into Spain from their long journey. This is the Epiphany of the church calendar, the 12th day after Christmas, when the Magi arrived bearing gifts for baby Jesus. Many kids also leave out three glasses of warm milk and sweets for each of the kings, plus some hay or grass for their hungry camels. However, the Three Kings are still the primary source of excitement for children in Spain. For decades, Santa was a tradition reserved for the countries of Northern Europe and North America, but as U.S. traditions have become more and more widespread, it's not uncommon for children to receive a few smaller gifts on Christmas as well. January 6th is Three Kings Day. Three Kings, View of Spanish Men, outdoor scene, the traditional Kings’ Day parade, January 5th each year sees the celebration. The gifts are brought by the particular […] In others, they've arrived by helicopter. The Kings throw out candy to the excited spectators, who then rush home to bed so the Kings can visit and leave their presents. Formentera has also restricted social gatherings to a maximum of six people, both indoors and outdoors. Learn about the three wise men — Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar — and other Spanish Christmas traditions. Each year, the three kings travel on camel from the East to visit all the children. It's a tradition, especially for families, to come out and see the parade. In Mexico, for example, a mile-long “Rosca de Reyes” cake is made to celebrate the holiday. For many Christians in Spain and Latin America, the holiday season officially ends on January 6, which is the 12th day of Christmas known as the …