The procession will finish with a huge musical show and fireworks! The next day, Friday the 6th of January, is a public holiday so many businesses are closed, including Euroace. After the Parade is over, the Three Kings will address the children from the balcony of the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). They will begin their traditional parade at 6pm in Paseo de la Alameda, passing through the streets of the city center until they arrive at the City Hall. The Three Kings will come to Valencia by sea on Thursday the 5th of January, from the Valencia Marina. What’s happening in Valencia for this holiday? Our Dia de los Muertos La Experiencia celebration will. The second is a toy – whoever finds this is king or queen for the day! Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is about to come alive to honor the dead.

One is a fava bean – whoever finds this is said to buy the Roscón the following year. Inside there are two objects hidden for everyone to find. It’s also a perfect time to taste the ring-shaped cake called Roscón de Reyes. It’s Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, the Three Kings! With the arrival of these Wise Men on January the 5th commences a spectacular parade through the streets, with sweets and treats being thrown to the many excited children in the crowd. Instead of receiving gifts from Santa on Christmas morning, in Spain the children receive gifts from the Three Kings either on the evening of January 5th, or the morning of January 6th.Īlthough Spaniards celebrate Christmas, Santa Claus is not the one who brings children their gifts. The Three Kings, or “Los Reyes Magos”, replace Santa Claus in the majority of homes in Spain. You’ll see them in the nativity scenes around the city and in many homes, as well as real life versions for the big parade. The tradition originates from the Bible when the three wise men came to Bethlehem bearing gifts for Jesus after he was born. Just like with Santa Claus, children will receive presents if they have behaved well through out the year.Celebrated as an annual public holiday in Spain, El Día de Los Reyes Magos or The Day of the Three Kings is seen as an event even bigger than Christmas! Held every year on January the 5th and 6th, it’s a time for present-giving, huge parades through the city streets, music, and firework displays. They place the figurines of the kings further away from the display and move them closer to the manger as they get closer to the day. The next morning the children wake up to presents under the tree.įor Cubans, the celebration of Three Kings Day begins when families decorate their Christmas tree and put out their nativity scenes. In Argentina, children make sure to place a pair of shoes, grass and a bowl of water for the camels and bread under their Christmas tree. Several families give out money instead of presents. The children are asked to write a wish list, which is then placed on top of the box of grass. In Puerto Rico, on “La Víspera de Reyes” (the Eve of Three Kings Day) Puerto Rican children participate in cutting grass that will then be placed in a show box and go under their bed. This person has the responsibility of hosting a dinner and providing tamales and atole to the guests too. Whoever finds the baby Jesus figurine is blessed and must take the figurine to the nearest church on February 2 (Candlemas Day, Día de la Candelaria).

Mexico also celebrates “Dia de Reyes” with a family gathering around the “Rosca de Reyes”, which includes a figurine of infant Jesus baked inside. In the morning, families enjoy a bejeweled round cake called the “Rosca de Reyes,” or Kings’ Cake, to represent the jewels on their crowns. In Spain it is the Three Kings who bring presents and not Santa Claus. The kings usually show up riding horses or on decorated floats and throw a variety of goods to the children in the audience. People gather to watch a variety of Christmas-themed floats, performers dressed as angels and animals, lead the way for the three kings. In Spain, Spaniards celebrate the religious day with a parade called the “Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos,” which takes place on the eve of the Epiphany. Let’s learn how some countries celebrate it: This is the day in which the The Three wise men from the East traveled to see baby Jesus and present them with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. You may have more of a clue as to what this holiday means when I tell you that it is also known as Epiphany in th US. Some Hispanic cultures celebrate what is known as Dia de Reyes or The Three wise men day.

Hispanic Traditions: The Three wise men day.Īround this time of year, it is great to celebrate the traditions that we hold dear to our hearts but it can also be fun to learn a little about how other countries celebrate the holidays.

Dia de reyes