Celebrating Los Reyes Magos by mollymoo0oo0
In Spain, 6th January is an important date - in fact the most important date - in the Christmas calendar (el calendario deNavidad)......This date is known as Los Reyes Magos, named after the Magi - three wise men who supposedly followed a bright shining star to arrive at the manger where Jesus Christ was born.
So, as part of the festivities to celebrate, towns throughout Spain have a procession of the Kings. In Madrid, this takes part through a central part of the city, starting at Nuevos Ministerios and following the path down Paseo de la Castellana towards Plaza de Colón and further beyond. Thousands of people turn out onto the streets to watch the many different colourful floats passing, in expectation of the giant sized ´Kings´, who come bearing gifts.....
Thousands of sweets are thrown into the crowds for the children to share, and so you will find the many excited children lining the front of the crowd along the procession.
Also on this special day, a cake is eaten - roscón de reyes, which you will see all over the city filling the windows of many a pastelería. The cake can be bought with/without cream (con/sin nata) and is covered in green and red ´jewels´... inside the cake a treasure is hidden. A small King figurine is baked within it, to be found by just one lucky person when they take their slice. In a café yesterday, my friend was the lucky one!
I have added pictures here of a roscón for you to see, and will later add some of the street procession.
