Guide to Barcelona

The Three Kings at Christmas in Barcelona

חמישי, 27 אוקטובר 2011 08:54

אתרים בברצלונה

While the main Christmas celebration in most countries is the 25th Decemeber, the day on which the baby Jesus was born, Spain differs as the biggest day of celebrating in the Christmas period is the night of the 5th and the 6th January, which is the Twelfth Night and also called the Epiphany.

This is because this is the day that the “los Reyes Magos” the Three Kings of the Orient or the Three Wise Men arrived at the Crib of the baby Jesus. The celebration is called "La Cabalgata de Reyes Magos" in Spanish and "la Cavalcada de Reis" in Catalan.

The celebration begins in the night of the 5th Janaury, when the Three Kings arrive in Barcelona at the dock called "Moll de La Fusta" (wood wharf) in front of the Columbus monument at the Rambla de Mar. Here they are greeted by the mayor of the city. The ship used by the Three Kings is Barcelona maritime museum's schooner called "Santa Eulàlia". There is usually a large crowd to greet their arrival espcially children. From here, the Three Kings make their way to the Parc de la Ciutatdella, the start point of the parade.

The Kings parade in Barcelona starts on Av. Marques de l'Argentera outside the side entrance of park Ciutadella. The parade route is then Av. Marquès de l’Argentera, Via Laietana, Pl. Urquinaona, Pl. de Catalunya, Pl. de la Universitat, Rda. de Sant Antoni, Sepúlveda, Vilamarí, Lleida before finishing at the Avinguda de Rius i Taulat near the Magic Fountain.

The parade is huge and there are usually around 1200 participents in the parade. The parade can sometimes stretch to distances of about one kilometre. The Three Kings take pride of place in the parade on their own float and sweets are thrown to the watching children. There are usually a large number of people watching the parade and the atompshere is great to experience.

The real celebration coems the following day however. On the 6th January(a public holiday), it is the equivalent of Christmas in other countries as the children write notes to the Three Kings (not Santa Claus) saying whether they have been good or bad and what they would like for Christmas. The children leave their shoes by the window to be filled with Christmas presents by the Kings. They leave out water for the camels that the Kings have travelled on and food for the Kings. In the morning, the children awake to find their presents if they have been good or a lump of coal if they have not.

Like Christmas Day in other countries, a large family dinner takes place with a special dessert. El Roscon de Reyes is a ring-shaped cake with a king and a bean hidden in the cake. The one who recieves the pieces of the cake with the king and the bean in will be crowned King for that day. If you only find the king, you will receive the crown. In case you just find the bean you have to pay for the meal or made it by yourself. This day signifies the Christmas ending celebrations and all decorations are taken down.

One of the great things to do while seeing the world is to see and get involved in other cultures. The Three Kings is a huge part of the Spanish culture, so if you are coming to Barcelona then be sure to try and experience this brilliant and interesting tradition. If you are coming to Barcelona during Christmas time, take a look at our Barcelona Apartments.