Els Reis

Tomorrow night every child in Catalonia will be in a state of excitement as they anticipate the visit of the Kings or as they are commonly known the Magi.

Western Christianity celebrates the Magi on the day of Epiphany, January 6, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas, particularly in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. In these areas, the Three Kings ("los Reyes Magos de Oriente", also "Los Tres Reyes Magos" and "Los Reyes Magos") receive letters from children and magically bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany. In Spain, each one of the Magi is supposed to represent one different continent, Europe (Melchior), Asia (Caspar) and Africa (Balthasar). According to the tradition, the Magi come from the Orient on their camels to visit the houses of all the children; much like Santa Claus with his reindeer, they visit everyone in one night. In some areas, children prepare a drink for each of the Magi. It is also traditional to prepare food and drink for the camels, because this is the only night of the year when they eat.

In Spain, Argentina, México and Uruguay there is a long tradition for having the children receive their Christmas presents by the three "Reyes Magos" (the figure of Santa Claus only appeared in recent decades) on the night of January 5 (Epiphany Eve). Almost every Spanish city or town organises cabalgatas in the evening, in which the kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents) in attendance. The cavalcade of the three kings in Alcoy claims to be the oldest in the world, having started in 1886.

The tradition is strong and enduring with many people (understandably) reluctant to let Santa interfere with tradition. It also leads to some other habits,the sales start on January the 7th (the 6th being a holiday), unlike the UK where Boxing Day sees the feeding frenzy commence.

There is a street market in GranVia, Barcelona, open until the early hours of the 6th for the people who have left their gift buying a little late. The similarity with Britain is that the day of the Reis ,the 6th January is a little flat, with that sense of anticlimax that marks Christmas in Britain. My Birthday is on the 5th also so another year passes and adds to the joy!