Los Reyes Magos: The spanish christmas tradition

While in many countries, the holiday season is over in December, in Spain, our festive spirit is still in full swing! 🎉 Beyond the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations, both children and adults hold onto the magic of the most special day of the Christmas Season: the Three Kings Day or “Los Reyes Magos” in Spanish.

In Spain, the joy of Christmas extends well into the new year, culminating in the enchanting Three Kings’ celebration. This magical tradition holds a special place in our hearts, as it beautifully intertwines religious significance with the magic of childhood dreams and memories.

What is Los Reyes Magos?

Based on the Christian tradition, the Three Wise Men followed a star to Bethlehem that showed them the way to see the newborn Son of God, Jesus. The kings, Melchior, Gaspar, and Baltasar, offered Jesus three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Inspired by this event, children from Spain write letters which explain how good they have been and list down gifts they wish to receive. However, will the naughty ones receive their presents?

When is Los Reyes Magos celebrated?

Riding their camels from the East to Bethlehem, the Three Wise Men arrived on January 5th to offer their gifts to baby Jesus. Because of this, each town/city in Spain holds a big parade to welcome Los Reyes Magos, which will arrive in either horses, car, boat, or even by helicopter!

The kings will be accompanied with their own pages and trucks containing hundreds of presents. To see the excitement on the children’s face when they see the Kings arrive for the first time is priceless! Once the parade ends, children will go home and prepare water, milk, and food for Los Reyes Magos and their camels or horses to help them regain strength after a long journey.

How is Día de Los Reyes Magos celebrated?

The morning of January 6th children from all over Spain will wake up nervous but excited as they get to find the gifts Los Reyes Magos has given them. For those who haven’t behaved properly, they receive a charcoal as a lesson to behave better for the year.

The day is followed with a family meal with a special dessert, el roscón de reyes. It is a round oval-shaped sweet bread, often decorated with candied fruits and powdered sugar.

Surprise! There will usually be something inside the bread, usually a figurine and a dry bean. The person who finds the bean is asked to pay for the roscón. Isn’t it a fun way to end the festive season?

Interesting fact: Where is Los Reyes Magos celebrated?

Whereas I am focusing on how it is celebrated in my home country, Spain, the Three Kings Day is also celebrated in other locations around the globe:

Mexico: Known as “Día de Reyes,” it is a significant holiday with various customs, including the sharing of the Rosca de Reyes (a sweet bread).
Puerto Rico: The day is marked by parades, parties, and the traditional sharing of gifts.
Dominican Republic: Celebrated with religious services, parades, and the sharing of special meals.
Argentina: Families often gather for festive meals, and children receive gifts from the Three Kings.
Cuba: While not an official public holiday, some Cuban communities celebrate Three Kings’ Day with events and traditions.
Venezuela: The day is marked by religious observances, as well as festive activities and the sharing of gifts.
Colombia: Celebrations include parades, parties, and the exchange of gifts among family and friends.
France: Particularly in regions like Provence, there are traditions associated with Epiphany, including the sharing of the “Galette des Rois,” a puff pastry with a hidden figurine.
Germany: Known as “Dreikönigstag,” it is celebrated with special church services and customs in various regions.