Letters to the "reyes magos
This is probably the beginning of many letters from Spanish children to the three holy kings, who are called "reyes magos" here, because 5 January is - for the children - the most magical night of the year.
With imagination and impatience, the children wait for the holy three men to bring the presents on the night of 5 to 6 January, not - as in Germany - the Christ Child or Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.
The story is otherwise the same: the three wise men, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, followed a star that showed them the way to the gate of Bethlehem, where the child "Jesús" was.
On their camels they brought three important gifts for the Son of God: Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But the truth is that when you're a child, you don't pay attention to all this history.
The first memory I associate with the Magi is the famous phrase "Be good or the Magi will bring you coal" The Magi? Coal? All I could picture were serious men with crowns, wands and sacks of coal. Who are the three wise men and why would they bring me something I don't want?
When the night of the "reyes magos" was approaching, the parents talked about nothing else, the visit of the Magi to the village seemed to be something unprecedented. My mother told me that I had to write my letter to the Magi, so she helped me with it and we sent it in the post, but the most important thing was that I had to behave well, especially that week.
The day of the procession of the "reyes magos" had come. Finally I would see the three wise men!
It was impossible not to be excited, like all the parents and children of the village. When the show began, I didn't know where to look, a spectacle of dances, music, colours, shows, animals, sweets filled the streets... what child wouldn't be fascinated by that? I think it is at that moment that the Magi come alive and imprint themselves on every child's memory.
But when the show was over, I honestly didn't quite understand what had happened and why three men in pompous dresses should decide whether I deserved these gifts or the famous coal my mother always talked about. As a precaution, I "tried" to behave well, whatever good behaviour meant.
Tradition in the night of the "reyes magos".
Since I had already written and sent my letter to the Magi with the toys I wanted, all I had to do was wait for the magical night and, of course, behave very well.
That day I had met the Magi and their characters in person, now there were just a few things to do:
Before I went to bed, I left my shoes in sight so that the three wise men could see them but we also prepared some sweets, milk and water for the camels. After their long journey, it was the least we could do.
The next day I jumped out of bed and ran into the living room. Oh my God, it was true! They had left presents next to my shoes and had drunk and eaten everything.
Now I just had to open my presents and go outside to play with the other children. And from then on, the questions about who the Magi were began.
But before leaving, there was one last tradition, the Roscón de Reyes for breakfast, which I never liked. To this day, I know that the Roscón de Reyes (circular cake decorated with fruit) symbolises the precious stones with which the kings' elaborate dresses were adorned.
Why Spanish children get presents on 6 January
In Spain, the festival is called Los tres reyes or reyes magos, which means the Magi or the Wise Men from the East.
It takes place on the night of 5-6 January.
Later accounts identified the origin of the Magi by their names: Melchior came from Persia, Gaspar from India and Balthasar from Arabia.
"Magi from the East" are well defined in the apocryphal Gospels, where "magi" is synonymous with astrologers.
This festival is celebrated in different parts of the world. Portugal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela, Italy, Mexico or France are some of the countries that maintain some traditions, while in Spain the tradition of giving gifts to children on the night of the Three Kings began in the 19th century.
When the custom of having Father Christmas bring the presents began to spread in other countries, the Spanish custom of having the Magi bring the presents spread as a kind of imitation of this custom, but with a more religious background.
In 1866, the first parade of the "reyes magos" took place in Alcoy, but it was not until 1885 that the custom was officially recognised by the Spanish government and spread to the rest of the country, being adopted by other countries of Hispanic culture.
When the custom of having Father Christmas bring the presents began to spread in other countries, the Spanish custom of having the Magi bring the presents spread as a kind of imitation of this custom, but with a more religious background.
In 1866, the first parade of the "reyes magos" took place in Alcoy, but it was not until 1885 that the custom was officially recognised by the Spanish government and spread to the rest of the country, being adopted by other countries of Hispanic culture.
This year, the parade (Cavalcada) in Palma also takes place again. Without masks, but with live music and thirteen floats. The kings have 2000 kilos of sweets for the little ones. The whole thing starts at 18:00 clock at the "Moll Vell". It is also great for the children that this year the City Council will again set up the "royal mailboxes". There the children can post their letters to the three kings.
And which is better? The holy three kings? Or Santa Claus? If you ask me: Both!
Merry Christmas!
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