Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos

There we are, my first day in Madrid. Today is January the 6^th and I’m finally in Spain.

First impression: It’s a big and beautiful city.

Second impression: Everything was closed!!

On my way to my new home, I asked the taxi driver why everything was closed and his answer was: “It’s Christmas”. I didn’t understand because for me Christmas is December 24^th, so I made some research and that’s what I found:

In Spain every January 5^th, a big parade called “Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos” is organized to celebrate the arrival of the three kings. The streets are decorated with Christmas lights and these mythical characters parade on their camels with some gifts and candies that they give to the children. The parade is also the occasion for the children to give them letters in which they explain what kind of gifts they would like to receive.

The next day, the tradition wants that the children would find in the shoes that they left the day before on the balcony the gifts that they asked to Melchior, Gaspar y Balthazar. And every January 6^th, Spanish people eat with their family the “roscon de Reyes”, the cake of kings, decorated with candied fruits that represent ruby and emeralds of the coats of the Three Kings. A little bean is hidden in the cake and the person who finds it is the king or the queen of the house.

The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos is celebrated since 1885 and is the oldest tradition in Spain.