We have started the year by learning about a traditional celebration on the 6th January which celebrates the arrival of the three Kings to Bethlehem.  Celebrations for El Día de los Reyes Magos (The Day of the Three Kings) begin on the evening of 5th January, with La Cabalgata de los Reyes (The Parade of the Kings.)

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This is a special parade that celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings. Sometimes they arrive on camels or horses and in the Canary Islands they arrive by boat!  On the night of 5th January excited niños (children) leave their zapatos (shoes) outside their puerta (door) and some heno (hay) for the Three Kings’ camels. If they have been well-behaved, the Three Kings will visit and leave them presents and sweets.  El roscón de Reyes (The Kings’ Cake) is a traditional cake in the shape of a ring and decorated with candied frutas (fruits). The bright colours of the fruit represent the joyas (jewels) of the Three Kings.  The cakes come with a special corona (crown) that someone very lucky in the family will get to wear!  








One fun tradition during the celebration is waiting to see who will be el rey o la reina de la fiesta (The King or the Queen of the party).It all depends on who finds el frijol (the bean).  Traditionally, el frijol (the bean) would have been a dried broad bean that was hidden inside el roscón de Reyes (The Kings’ Cake).  However, nowadays el frijol (the bean) is more commonly a small figurine of el niño Jesús (the baby Jesus), made of porcelain or metal. It is sometimes wrapped in foil in order to be protected during the baking process.  When the family is sitting around the table, el roscón de Reyes (The Kings’ cake) is sliced and given out to everybody.  Whoever has the slice that el frijol (the bean) is hidden in, gets to be el rey o la reina de la Fiesta (the king or the queen of the party).  They can wear the corona (crown) and decide which games to play and can ‘rule’ their family for the rest of the day! They also have to pay for the cake!