el Dia del Reyes Magos

Happy Dia del Reyes Magos - happy Magic King's day or day of the Magi.

I guess the story goes that when Jesus was born the three wise men - who were kings - saw a star or got a message from and angel and headed straight away to Bethlehem to bring gifts. They brought him frankincense and myrrh and other things that babies like. But it took them a few days to travel the distance; they arrived on either the 5th or the 6th of January (I still haven't got a completely straight answer). They call this day el Dia del Reyes Magos.

In Spain, Christmas is celebrated at Christmas and maybe a few gifts are given; but the real gift-giving frenzy is el Dia del Reyes. Santa has a small (and rather recent) place in Spain's winter holiday culture; it's really the fantasy of three kings that capture children's hearts here. There are parades and parties in the streets, shops open all night and - more surprisingly - all day, and more church bells than usual. Children leave their shoes under the Christmas tree (rather than socks hung at the fireplace) and find them stuffed with goodies in the morning. When I woke up this morning, I didn't find a stack of presents that the magic kings brought in the night, and nothing unusual in my shoes, but there is no disappointment or feeling of being left out. Maybe by next year I'll feel Spanish enough to send my wishes to the Magic Kings, but for now I'm content with my role as outsider watching tradition preformed around me.