Three Kings Day in Barcelona: When is it celebrated, how to participate and where to see the parade?

We, the Three Kings, are coming to you, wishing you happiness and health... While in some countries the Three Kings Day is not celebrated much - charity collections are held, for some it is the end of Christmas associated with taking down the Christmas tree and cleaning up the decorations, but otherwise it is a fairly ordinary day like any other - But in Barcelona (and by extension all of Spain), Epiphany is a relatively big event..

In many cities, they take place on January 5th from the afternoon until the evening, the day before the holiday itself. Epiphany processions, which are truly spectacular. There is so much that it makes your eyes water!

Catalans They won't miss a single opportunity to party and celebrate in Barcelona. Meet other holidays and festivals throughout the year in the city.

During the holiday, you will see lots of allegorical floats, artists in amazing costumes, music, dance, acrobatics, sweets and joy not only in children's eyes... 

The colorful royal procession celebrating the arrival of the Three Kings is one of the most anticipated moments of the year for children.

Get ready, the Three Kings are bringing gifts!

In families where Christmas is celebrated, Three Kings (literally translated as Three Wise Kings), they are often It is the kings to whom children write letters and who "deliver" gifts – not Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas. Children leave their shoes outside on the terrace or under the window for the kings to fill with sweet treats and small gifts.

Before the children go to bed, they prepare a glass of milk (or something stronger) for the king and nougat or nougat, so they can have a snack during their journey around the world. However, only children who have been well behaved all year should receive gifts; naughty children will find their shoes full of coal. In today's supermarkets, you can usually find lumps of "coal" for sale, made from sugar, packed in small burlap bags.

Where did the tradition of the Three Kings actually come from?

The tradition of Epiphany processions in today's sense began sometime in the 1960s, but the Three Kings celebrations go back much further. This holiday is similar to Christmas Eve in its religious significance and gift-giving tradition.

January 5th is also the day when Most people take down Christmas decorations. and some even say it brings bad luck if you leave your Christmas decorations up too late. It is also the last night that the Christmas lights adorning the city streets are turned on. It was once customary to leave Christmas decorations up until Holmdachshund (February 2nd), which commemorates the day Jesus was presented in the temple, and taking them down at any other time was considered unlucky for the coming year.

Watch out, the ship with the kings is coming - where will you find it? 

In Barcelona, ​​the kings arrive on the schooner Santa Eulàlia to of Port Vell close Columbus Monument at the end the famous La Rambla. The mayor of the town welcomes them and treats them to bread and salt as a token of hospitality. He then gives them a symbolic key to the town, which can unlock any door. Thanks to it, the Three Kings can then visit every household and deliver gifts. 

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni hands over the key to the Three Kings, photo Jordi Borras

• Buffoon (Gaspar), the King of Sheba, is traditionally depicted with red hair and beard and often wearing a green cloak.
• Melichar (Melchor), the king of Arabia, has a long white beard and white hair and wears a golden cloak.
• Baltazar (Balthasar), king of Egypt and Tarsus, is depicted with a black beard and darker skin than the others, and wears a purple cloak.

Each king rides in a lighted chariot and is accompanied by his retinue of dancers and musicians. 

The Three Kings on the Santa Eulàlia ship; you can see their interior during a visit, among other things maritime museum, entrance is included

How to participate in the Three Kings procession in Barcelona and when exactly does it take place?

As mentioned above, The Three Kings' Day celebrations take place every year on January 5th., the eve of Epiphany.

The procession of the kings always starts at the port and then winds through the streets old town (Ciutat Vella) accompanied by a rich and colorful retinue. The kings and their entourage wave to the crowd along the way and throw candy to the people watching their pilgrimage. The route is about 5 km long and changes slightly every year. 

An allegorical float in the Three Kings procession in Barcelona, ​​photo Jordi Borras

Traditional delicacies you must try this holiday.

Catalans celebrate the Three Kings Day with their whole family and traditionally eat a king cake together. (Rosca de Reyes)It is a sweet brioche filled with cream or marzipan, or possibly chocolate ganache, decorated with candied fruit (cherries, melons, oranges) and pine nuts.

King's cake, or Rosca de Reyes, is offered by most bakeries in the city during the holiday.

The cake is especially popular with children. There is a surprise hidden inside: a figurine of a king and beans are baked inside. The person who finds the figurine of the king is crowned – they get a paper crown on their head that they wear for the rest of the day. On the other hand, the person who finds the beans has to buy a king cake the following year and treat the others. 

Almost all bakeries sell this cake on Epiphany.

Other delicacies traditionally eaten on Epiphany are almond nougat (nougat) or tubes of thin crispy dough (uncountable)that adults dip into sparkling cava.