- Title: SPAIN/THREE-KINGS PARADE Madrid holds its annual Three Kings Parade
- Date: 5th January 2015
- Summary: VARIOUS OF A FLOCK OF GEESE MARCHING IN PARADE
- Embargoed: 20th January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2RIIU25225AAO6B6BSNTYMPCY
- Story Text: The Three Kings - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - paraded through the streets of Madrid on Monday (January 5) laden with sweets and presents for children on the eve of the day of the Epiphany.
Imaginative floats, acrobats and animals made their way through the Spanish capital as the traditional Three Kings parade got underway and children and adults alike celebrated the eve of the Epiphany trying to collect as many sweets as possible.
"I like it because they bring presents and to some children coal and those things, toys and sweets also. Now they are throwing many sweets," 9 year old Ainhoa said.
The Epiphany, so the story goes, marks the day when the Three Kings of Orient arrived in Bethlehem presenting Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, on January 6, 12 days after Christmas.
There was no gold, frankincense or myrrh on Monday evening though, but there were plenty of sweets thrown from the floats onto the crowds sending children into a frenzy of excitement.
"Happy Three Kings Parade. I have asked them for Play Station 3, PS Vita and video games for both, and also some Play Mobile. Happy new year!" six year old Alejandro said.
The Three Kings parade is held in Madrid and throughout Spain's cities and towns every year on January 5th, on the eve of the Epiphany, and the chance to see Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar in a theatrical show of lights, costumes and fantasy, brings thousands of families onto the streets of the Spanish capital.
Everyone has their favourite king and adults who once came to the parade as children bring their children to enjoy a national tradition.
"Today and tomorrow are magic, tonight is fantastic and since we were kids we have always come and we come with our children," Susana who brought her child to the parade said.
In Spain, Three Kings Day (January 6) is considered by most people to be more important than Christmas and many Spanish children wait until January 6 to open their presents. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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