Three Kings And Ephiphany In The Costa Blanca

Having recovered from your Christmas and New Year parties you might think that this is an end of Fiestas for a while but, when you buy a home in the Costa Blanca that is not true. One of the most important events in the holiday season in Spain is the magical arrival of the Three Kings and Epiphany on the evening of Twelfth Night on 5th January and during the national holiday of 6th January. The Three Wise Men or Kings Melchior, Gasper and Balthazar brought gifts at this time to the baby Jesus and in Spain children everywhere will be excitedly expecting their presents from this magnificent trio of men. 

The Kings Arrival

Although the gifts are delivered to children on the morning of 6th January, they will arrive and parade around many towns on 5th, throwing sweets to the crowd. Each town in the Costa Blanca has their own traditional way of celebrating this event but, often they will be riding on camels or horses and arrive to the town by boat and land on the beach.  Following the parade children will leave their shoes by the window or fireplace with a letter – if this hasn’t been collected beforehand – letting the Kings know their wishes for the year ahead. They will often leave out a piece of cake and some milk for the tired voyegers.

• Benidorm has one of the largest and most spectacular Three Kings Parades along the Costa Blanca starting in the near the port with their arrival by boat and progressing through the town in an array of colour and extravagance with bands and culminating in a lavish pyrotechnic display in the town centre near the Julio Iglesias Auditorium.
  
  
  
• Calpe homeowners can enjoy watching the Kings Parade with their children parading through the town with colourful costumes on elaborate floats. They will distribute gifts and sweets leaving a lasting memory of the occasion for children to dream about until the following year.
  

Moraira and Teulada

If you have bought a family home in Moraira or Teulada here is an idea about what you and your children can look forward to on the Día de Reyes Magos who arrive from the East by boat at L’Ampolla beach and parde through the town handing out gifts to delighted children in front of the church. A little later they will arrive in Teulada where they will visit Herod’s Palace and visit the Bethlehem manger to admire the new born Jesus. Following this the Kings pages will tour the town distibuting gifts. A few days before the parade usually on 28-30 December childrens letters will be collected to pass to the Kings propr to their arrival

• Living in Javea will allow you to see their Majesties arriving at the Port of Javea touring the Duanes de la Mar area, followed by a parade of the historic town centre on horseback both tours are accompanied by music. In Javea sweets will be distributed to the Kings audience who will then give a welcome message to the small children and share a few moments with them, following this the Kings will visit a nursing home and then resume their  tour to the historic centre. They will meet with more children to discuss how they have behaved during the year. Before the parade on December 26th Kings post boxes will be installed in the town so that children can send their present wishlists to the Wise Men and a few days before the parade Pages will be sent by the royal trio to speak with children and receive hand delivered letters.
  
  
  
   
• Denia residents can also witness the Kings arrival by boat at the Maritime station with their royal entourage and, guided by the star, they will tour the streets on floats until the reach the Plaza del Consell where they will walk to the Town Hall to worship the baby Jesus at the living Nativity Scene in the ground floor of the building. From the balcony they will then address the crowd .
• Jalon Valley and inland villages will also be able to enjoy seeing the Kings arrive in their towns to celebrate the birth of Jesus and distibute gifts to children. In any places where only sweets are distributed on the 5th January the little ones need not worry, the Royal Emissarys will collect letters from the children to deliver to the Wise Men. They will receive their gifts in their shoes when they wake up on 6th January.

Conclusion

Where ever you choose to buy your home in Spain you can enjoy this annual event followed by a family day of recovery after the children open their gifts on January 6th the final day of Christmas, the Epiphany which commemorates Christs appearance to the Gentiles. It is a day to recharge the batteries before the new working year commences, enjoy a nice meal with the family while the children play with their presents and eat the traditional sweat bread Roscon de Reyes. 

Hamiltons of London wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and an Enjoyable Epiphany!!!!