Three Kings Day in Barcelona
As several countries all over the world are busy winding down their Christmas events and busy complimenting each other during this festive season, it will be a different scene in Barcelona in Spain. Christmas celebrations would spill over to New Year’s events and then go on in full swing to the magical time on `Three Kings Day’.
The first week of January is a great time to visit Barcelona. Catalonians will be busy buying gifts and preparing feasts while they make themselves ready for `Los Reyes Magos’. This festival is famously celebrated as the festival of Three Kings or Three Wise Men. Barcelona is brought to life by these famous Biblical characters. Families share and exchange presets on this day and they indulge themselves in sweet treats. There is celebration in the streets as the festival is held on 5th January and goes on to the next day. The Kings appear and they distribute gifts to the children in the city. It is the children who are the centre of attraction on this day. It is the children, more than anyone else, who look forward to this day.
Origin of the Festival
The Three Kings Day was known initially as the day of Epiphany. It has its roots in the Gospel according to Matthew. The whole world is aware of the story of how three wise men came from the East to Bethlehem to bring gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold to infant Jesus. In Barcelona, the concept started where the Passion play was utilised to distribute gifts to the children in the city by Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar.
Over the years, thousands of children and their accompanying adults line up the streets in Barcelona on 5th January and 6th January to participate in this eagerly anticipated parade. It begins at Port Vell. The Three Kings arrive here, decked up in their original costumes. They arrive by boat called Santa Eulalia around five in the evening. Then, they go round Barcelona and cover about five kilometres. They come to a stop at Montjuic Magic Fountains by ten in the night.
What all happens during this exciting festival?
This vibrant parade is made to come alive with live music, decorated floats and vivid costumes. The three major floats transport each of the Wise Men or Kings and all those who help them in throwing colourful candy to the crowds as the procession passes by. This parade offers children an opportunity to submit their wish lists much in the same fashion as they do during Christmas and expect gifts to be delivered by Santa Claus. Their gifts are distributed on 6th of January.
As per tradition, the families in Barcelona return home and children leave out delicacies and food for the Kings and water for their camels. A pair of shoes is kept outside the doors or windows for the Kings to fill them up with the gifts that were desired for.
The luncheon meal on the Epiphany Day ends with Roscon de Reyes. This is a round dessert that is made out of a cake mix which is akin to a sponge cake. Crystallised fruit is added to this cake. The cake is also full of surprises inside it and these may include marzipan figurines of the Three Kings themselves. The person who is lucky enough to get the figurine is then resented with the Crown of that King. Those who do not find a figurine in their cake can get their own Roscon de Reyes at several bakeries in Barcelona. There are many restaurants in this exciting city that offer scrumptious Reyes Day Meals where people can experience their own little King’s feast. This post is in colaboration with Motivat Coaching.