I know that in many countries Christmas is over. Not in Spain, though. In fact, the most important day of Christmas is about to come.
Tonight it the Twelfth Night or Noche de Reyes meaning that the Three Wise Men or Reyes Magos are arriving to Bethlehem to worship the new born Jesus after following the star for weeks.
In Spain, children are brought presents by the Reyes Magos mainly and not Father Christmas (although in the past 20 years he’s gained popularity, when I was a kid I never received presents on Christmas day). The face the biggest Christmas Parades and the Magi sent their pages all over the country to collect all the letters from the special mailboxes you can find on every single Town Hall, every post office and even on the streets. And tonight every single child and adult would leave their clean shoes by the window so their favorite king (mine is Melchior) would leave your presents as you’ve been a good beanie. In exchange you leave some milk for your king and biscuits or carrots for their camels.
On Epiphany or Día de Reyes you must share with your loved ones the typical Roscón de Reyes (a sweet cake) which hides a present inside. The one who finds the present, can be the king for a day.
There is not a single day in the year I love more than Reyes. I’m already exited and nervous because they are almost here!!
Awwww.. that sounds so exciting and delightful. I hope you enjoy the day! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Meanwhile, in my country the second lock down was announced for some provinces yesterday. 😥 Shops are now close at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. in the morning and all schools and universities are close at least until the end of this month and they are to teach students using online platforms.
Well, I’m pretty sure things will be complicated here as well from next week on. As I said, Christmas finishes tomorrow and we’ve been allowed to travel and families to reunite (I hadn’t seen my sister since late September, for instance), so I think next week and the following weeks there will be an increase of cases and much more strict measures will need to be taken.
Actually for Orthodox Christians it’s the real Christmas on the sixth of January so in my country some families are celebrating double New Year and double Christmas 😉
It was pope Gregory who adapted the current Christmas date to other religions in Europe and their festive dates, he was really clever in this way, because the people were starting to mix it together and they’d converted to Christianism more easily.
In France there is Galette de Roi made from puff pastry and almond filling , similar to Spain with a fève and paper crown for the one who finds it in his piece of cake. My older son is cheating all the time to be the king.
In my country there were kids and young guys wearing big paper crowns and going by three from house to house bringing the happy news of Jesus being born and singing beautiful carols while getting some little gifts from people. Poor folks could make some liitle money for their families but that’s not the case anymore like the snow at this time of the year. When they were leaving the house they marked their initials and the current year on the doors in a white chalk – G+M+B 2021.
Thanks so much for sharing your country’s tradition. I love it!
The Adoration of the Three Wise Men is so important in Spain that even the oldest piece of theatre that’s preserved in Spanish (not in Latin) it’s called Auto de los Reyes Magos from the 13th century.
Adults too??? My family used to give gifts on Epiphany so we would concentrate on Christmas better… but I grew up and didn’t qualify anymore. Maybe I should leave my shoes out today. 😀
Do it!!! Kings are magic, they are Magi!! You only have to believe.
And yes, everybody gets their presents on Epiphany. In fact Christmas presents are usually called “Reyes”, as in “My Reyes were a couple of books, a dress and a new cell phone”.
Wow, thank you for sharing your traditions! It’s been fun reading about them! My parents have always told us about El Dia De Reyes but never really explained what it was about, I’m not sure they know and only see it as a tradition. When they were young they would put out their shoes at night and wake up to them with a small present, but they never did that with us. Here in the States, they would buy us Roscas, but here the roscas have little baby figurines, of baby Jesus I suppose. Whoever gets the baby in their piece of Rosca has to make tamales for February 2nd, el dia de la candelaria, so everyone wishes to avoid it. Did we ever make tamales on February 2nd, no actually. To be honest, my parents just did as they heard, but never knew what they were celebrating l, therefore, I don’t know much either, so I don’t know either. All I know is that Roscas taste good😊
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Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 2:13 AM
I know that in many countries Christmas is over. Not in Spain, though. In fact, the most important day of Christmas is about to come.
Tonight it the Twelfth Night or Noche de Reyes meaning that the Three Wise Men or Reyes Magos are arriving to Bethlehem to worship the new born Jesus after following the star for weeks.
In Spain, children are brought presents by the Reyes Magos mainly and not Father Christmas (although in the past 20 years he’s gained popularity, when I was a kid I never received presents on Christmas day). The face the biggest Christmas Parades and the Magi sent their pages all over the country to collect all the letters from the special mailboxes you can find on every single Town Hall, every post office and even on the streets. And tonight every single child and adult would leave their clean shoes by the window so their favorite king (mine is Melchior) would leave your presents as you’ve been a good beanie. In exchange you leave some milk for your king and biscuits or carrots for their camels.
On Epiphany or Día de Reyes you must share with your loved ones the typical Roscón de Reyes (a sweet cake) which hides a present inside. The one who finds the present, can be the king for a day.
There is not a single day in the year I love more than Reyes. I’m already exited and nervous because they are almost here!!
¡¡Feliz Noche de Reyes!!
mmmmm
January 5, 2021 at 3:44 AM
Awwww.. that sounds so exciting and delightful. I hope you enjoy the day! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Meanwhile, in my country the second lock down was announced for some provinces yesterday. 😥 Shops are now close at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. in the morning and all schools and universities are close at least until the end of this month and they are to teach students using online platforms.
sirena
January 5, 2021 at 5:43 AM
@mmmmm I’m sorry to hear that.
mmmmm
January 5, 2021 at 5:59 AM
Thank you @sirena 😊 Let’s hope that the situation is getting better, and the better days are ahead of us.
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 9:12 AM
Well, I’m pretty sure things will be complicated here as well from next week on. As I said, Christmas finishes tomorrow and we’ve been allowed to travel and families to reunite (I hadn’t seen my sister since late September, for instance), so I think next week and the following weeks there will be an increase of cases and much more strict measures will need to be taken.
purplesheesh
January 5, 2021 at 4:05 AM
In the PH too. We greet each other Happy Three Kings!
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 4:26 AM
Likewise!
So nice some traditions still bond Spain and Philippines ❤️
parkchuna ❤️🍉
January 5, 2021 at 5:33 AM
Enjoy your festivities! That present in a cake sounds like my kinda thing but i wonder what sort of stuff u put in?
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 5:38 AM
Just a small thing, it may be a little toy (like a thumb big). In old times it was a bean, in fact!
sirena
January 5, 2021 at 5:45 AM
This tradition sounds wonderful!
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 9:13 AM
It’s my favorite day of the year! Much more than my birthday!
BC
January 5, 2021 at 8:25 AM
Actually for Orthodox Christians it’s the real Christmas on the sixth of January so in my country some families are celebrating double New Year and double Christmas 😉
It was pope Gregory who adapted the current Christmas date to other religions in Europe and their festive dates, he was really clever in this way, because the people were starting to mix it together and they’d converted to Christianism more easily.
In France there is Galette de Roi made from puff pastry and almond filling , similar to Spain with a fève and paper crown for the one who finds it in his piece of cake. My older son is cheating all the time to be the king.
In my country there were kids and young guys wearing big paper crowns and going by three from house to house bringing the happy news of Jesus being born and singing beautiful carols while getting some little gifts from people. Poor folks could make some liitle money for their families but that’s not the case anymore like the snow at this time of the year. When they were leaving the house they marked their initials and the current year on the doors in a white chalk – G+M+B 2021.
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 9:18 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your country’s tradition. I love it!
The Adoration of the Three Wise Men is so important in Spain that even the oldest piece of theatre that’s preserved in Spanish (not in Latin) it’s called Auto de los Reyes Magos from the 13th century.
sirena
January 5, 2021 at 1:31 PM
@kerouregan Thank you for sharing this beautiful tradition with us 🙂
WishfulToki
January 5, 2021 at 9:18 AM
Adults too??? My family used to give gifts on Epiphany so we would concentrate on Christmas better… but I grew up and didn’t qualify anymore. Maybe I should leave my shoes out today. 😀
Eazal
January 5, 2021 at 9:22 AM
Do it!!! Kings are magic, they are Magi!! You only have to believe.
And yes, everybody gets their presents on Epiphany. In fact Christmas presents are usually called “Reyes”, as in “My Reyes were a couple of books, a dress and a new cell phone”.
WishfulToki
January 5, 2021 at 9:51 AM
❤️
Jellybn
January 5, 2021 at 6:22 PM
Wow, thank you for sharing your traditions! It’s been fun reading about them! My parents have always told us about El Dia De Reyes but never really explained what it was about, I’m not sure they know and only see it as a tradition. When they were young they would put out their shoes at night and wake up to them with a small present, but they never did that with us. Here in the States, they would buy us Roscas, but here the roscas have little baby figurines, of baby Jesus I suppose. Whoever gets the baby in their piece of Rosca has to make tamales for February 2nd, el dia de la candelaria, so everyone wishes to avoid it. Did we ever make tamales on February 2nd, no actually. To be honest, my parents just did as they heard, but never knew what they were celebrating l, therefore, I don’t know much either, so I don’t know either. All I know is that Roscas taste good😊