Three Wise Men's Parade

 05.01.2009 10:13   spainforvisitors.com

Most Spaniards continue to resist the invasion of Father Christmas or Santa Claus, preferring to have their Christmas gifts brought by the Reyes Magos, the Three Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Their processions are held on the eve (January 5th) of Epiphany (January 6th) in towns and cities throughout the country (oddly, they are a rare opportunity for political rivals to cooperate - the Magi are generally "played" by local politicians, one from each of the leading parties). The parades are led by floats representing more earthly concerns like telephony operators or department stores, then come the Reyes Magos (complete with camels), flinging sweets to the crowds of small children which line the route. The gifts the Magi bring later that night will be opened the next day, the last (twelfth) day of Christmas, this being Father Christmas's only real strong point in Spain - the children have little time to enjoy their presents before school resumes the following day, so in many households these are divided into two lots, one brought by Santa Claus, the other by the Three Wise Men.

Spain Recreation, Tourism