Barcelona's Three Kings' Parade

Banners about the Three Kings' Parade were posted throughout Barcelona and I found a small note about it in our guidebook.  Before going, J and I saw King's Cake featured in bakery windows all over and wanted to learn more about this big holiday.  This article, which I've highlighted important selections below, helped us learn about this huge and important celebration that so many in the world celebrate.  The Three Kings' Parade on the night of January 5th was a highlight of our trip and another tradition we'll continue thanks to our trip to Barcelona.

The Three Kings on 5th January is Barcelona's Christmas parade and the biggest Christmas celebration day in Spain. It is celebrated with the "Three Kings’ Parade" - also known as the “Twelfth Night procession". In Spanish it is called "La Cabalgata de Reyes Magos” and in Catalan it is called "la Cavalcada de Reis Mags d'Orient". ¡Felices Reyes!

These looked like glowing dragons floating above

About Three Kings - Reyes traditions

These famous and beloved Magi, the Three Kings of the Orient, are called Balthasar, Gaspar, and Melchior in Spanish and in Catalan they are called Baltasar, Gaspar, and Melchor. The legend of the Three Kings of the Orient is that after the Kings came to Bethlehem on 5th January after following a heavenly star. Upon arrival gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus, they handed out gifts to children during their return journey. So in Spain children write to the Three Kings, who bring the presents on 6th January. The Kings' Day Parade is the biggest parade in Barcelona and takes place on 5th January every year on the evening before Twelfth Night - also called Epiphany, which is on the 6th January.  The 6th January is a public holiday in Spain and is the biggest gift giving day of the year in Barcelona and Spain when the children open their presents and the family eats a sweetbread cake called "Tortell de Reis" or kings cake which in Spanish is called "Roscón de Reyes" which means Kings' Ring. Inside the Roscon the bakers hide a tiny toys or trinket and a fava bean. The person who finds the toy is King or Queen of the feast and the person who gets the fava bean buys the cake the following year.. The children send their gift wishes to the Kings by sending them or handing them to the Kings' pages Page Estel or Page Gregori, who can be found at the Barcleona City Hall, at the Three Kings' Post Box in the courtyard of the Palau de la Virreina or at many malls. The Pages Estel and Gregori are also in the parade to collect the last childrens' letters.

About Barcelona Kings Parade 

There are various local Christmas Kings parades in different districts of Barcelona on 5th January.  An estimated 500,000 people, including the Phanbergs, go to see the biggest "Cabalgata de Reyes Magos" in Barcelona, which is a three hour parade with a convoy of around 12 parade floats - carrozas - that stretches almost one kilometre in total along a 5km route through the centre of Barcelona also passing by Plaza Catalunya. The Kings parade is a spectacular show designed and performed by professional artists from the world of theater, music, dance and circus alongside many volunteers, which are mostly students from 29 different arts schools in Barcelona. In total there are about 1,200 costumed participants, 12 big floats and 26 dance retinues called comparsas. Each float has a theme, which change every year. For well behaved children around 12 tons of gluten free caramels (hard candies) are thrown from three lorries, so bring a bag if you have been good in 2013. Small children can give the Kings pages their Christmas letters and also hand in their pacifiers or dummies - called xumets in Catalan - to the Kings' Xumeters - the dummie collectors. Leading the parade are "Els llancers de la Guàrdia Reial" The Royal Guard Lancers on horseback. Don't forgot to buy a Kings Cake - a sweet dessert bread called "Tortells de Reis" in Catalan - "Roscón de Reyes" in Spanish, which is eaten the night before or on King's Day. You can get them at all bakeries and supermarkets in Barcelona. ¡Felices Reyes! Bones Festes!