8 reasons to visit Madrid in The Day of Three Kings

1. Important day

6 of january – Day of the  Three Kings -called Día de los Reyes Magos (kings- magicians) in Spain is really important celebration. This day is free of work and dedicated to family. I didn’t expect such amazing experience which I get in the evening of 5.01.2017.

2. Regalos  – gifts of the Three Kings

If you think that Santa Claus is the most important character for Spanish kids – you are wrong. Children here are receiving dream gifts in the Day of the Three Kings from Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.

3. Roscón – special cake everywhere

There is tradition of eating special cake in The Day of the Three Kings. It has oval shape, sometimes includes creme inside; it is decorated by dry fruits and gold crown made my paper.

Inside of the cake are hidden two gifts- small toy and the bean. Both of them are giving happiness. Small figure founded in your peace of rascól making with you a king and it is symbol of  good things which are waiting in New Year. If somebody other will touch that toy  – also will get happiness. Dry bean is also good symbol – mean have honour to pay for roscón in the next year.

From Christmas period shops are full of roscóns:  supermarkets, small chinese shops, bakeries, confectioneries. Restaurants are offering Three King’s cake with coffee or chocolate and coworkers  are eating it in place of work. In the evening 5 january in front of the restaurants there are hostesses offering rascón and in the night at discos are giving free pieces of the cake for the clients.

4. Gran Cabalgata – Three Kings parade

In Madrid parades of Three Kings have started 04 of january. Many districts had their own Cabalgatas. The bigger one was 5 january evening. It started in plaza de San Juan de la Cruz – close to Nuevos Ministerios – modern part of Madrid. If you are going visit that district I recommend to follow path of Paseo de Castellana till Plaza de Castilla where you can see great twin buildings of Bankia and then – more away – Cuatro Torres – four skyscrapers.

Half hour before parade Plaza de San Juan was alredy full of the people. There were a lot of families with kids, group of friends, tourists, locals, etc. noisy and cheerful waiting start of the event. Some of them brought ladders for have better view and some wear paper crowns. Another interesting points by which parade was walking were: Glorieta de Emilio Castelar (with famous monument), Plaza de Colón (square with statue of Coulomb and Spanish flag), Paseo de Recoletos (street near Salamanca district), Plaza de Cibeles (with amazing palace).

5. Huge theatrical show

Big Parade of the Three Kings in Madrid was amazing spectacle. There were a lot big machines, in which you could see various colorful characters played by actors. It was artistic show with music, special effects, developed theater scenes. Some vehicles was created by promoted themselves companies. Also many associations participated in it.

You could see: firemen, gymnast above ground level with balloons, hospital, huge book,characters from the fairy tales, fireflies, theatrical characters on stilts, ballet – connection of swans and Ikar,  a giant bird, marine figures with lightening fishes, ship Galileo with scientists, octopus ship dropping serpentines in the air, vehicle – vegetables, farm; ecologists; giant planets circling in the sky; giant (3 or 4 meters) astronaut; bear with the tree – symbol of Madrid city and in the end three huge colorful, lightning, dropping serpentinas vehicles of reyes magos, car with the gifts and guards on horses. Big attraction was also helicopter.

A lot of spectacles had educational value: encourages children to read, inspiring by ecology, astronomy, science..

6. Day dedicated for kids

Calbagata specially was emphasized the role of children. Characters was dropping candles and viewers tried to catch them. Some of people came even with umbrella to can get more sweets. Some of kids received also toys gaved by parade actors.

7. Disney Palace -grand final

The most spectacular part was end point of parade – in Plaza Cibeles in front of Place Cibeles. There ballons were dissolved in the air and theatral groups finished their journey. Three Kings gave speech and promise to leave at home gift for every Madrid’s kids.

The best part was show of fireworks under the Palace of Cibeles. That palace was inspiration for Disney. Black night sky, blue lights and gold artificial fires- this spectacular show you can enjoy in Madrid in the Day of Three Kings.

8. Lines in front of the metro station

After all celebration crowds of the people were returning to home. It was first time in my life when I saw something like that – in front of metro station close to Palace of Cibeles (Banco de Espana) there were security men who didn’t let to enter. In front of the entrance in the street hundreds of people waited for they group turn to have possibility to go inside.

Magical evening

You don’t know where to travel in the Day of the Three Kings  – travel to Madrid – you will find no forgettable experience! It is magical and fairy tale spectacle, no comparable to any other country.

About another Spanish clebrations you can read:

• Lightening kingdom – Madrid with Christmas decorations
• 12 grapes – New Year´s Eve Spain Madrid
• Christmas in Madrid – Belens and Christmas markets