“Reyes Magos” instead of Santa Claus

This is how many letters from Spanish children to the Three Wise Men—called “reyes magos” here—probably begin, because 5 January is, for children, the most magical night of the year.

With imagination and impatience, children wait for the Three Wise Men to bring the gifts on the night of 5 to 6 January—not, as in Germany, the Christkind or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

Otherwise the story is the same: the three wise men, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, followed a star that showed them the way to the gates of Bethlehem, where the child “Jesús” was.

On their camels, they brought three important gifts for the Son of God: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

But the truth is that, as a child, you don’t pay attention to that whole story.

The first memory I associate with the Three Wise Men is the famous line: “Be good, or the Three Wise Men will bring you coal.” The Three Wise Men? Coal? All I could imagine were serious men with crowns, magic wands and sacks full of coal. Who are the three wise men, and why should they bring me something I don’t want?

As the night of the “reyes magos” approached, the parents talked about nothing else; the Three Wise Men’s visit to the village seemed like something never seen before. My mother told me I had to write my letter to the Three Wise Men, so she helped me and we sent it by post—but the most important thing was that I had to behave well, especially that week.

The day of the “reyes magos” parade had arrived. At last I would see the three wise men!

It was impossible not to be excited, like all the parents and children in the village. When the show began, I didn’t know where to look—a spectacle of dancing, music, colours, performances, animals, sweets filled the streets… what child wouldn’t be fascinated? I think it’s at that moment that the Three Wise Men come to life and are imprinted on every child’s memory.

But when the show was over, I honestly didn’t quite understand what had happened and why three men in pompous clothes were supposed to decide whether I deserved these gifts or the famous coal my mother always talked about. Just in case, I “tried” to behave well—whatever good behaviour meant.

Since I had already written and sent my letter to the Three Wise Men with the toys I wanted, all I had to do was wait for the magical night—and of course behave very well.

That day I had met the Three Wise Men and their figures in person; now there were just a few things left to do:

Before I went to bed, I left my shoes in plain sight so the three wise men could see them, but we also prepared some sweets, milk and water for the camels. After their long journey, that was the least we could do.

The next day I jumped out of bed and ran into the living room. Oh my God, it was true! They had left gifts next to my shoes and had drunk and eaten everything.

Now all I had to do was open my presents and go outside to play with the other children. And from then on, the questions about who the Three Wise Men were began.

But before leaving, there was one last tradition: Roscón de Reyes for breakfast, which I never liked. To this day, I know that the Roscón de Reyes (a circular cake decorated with fruit) symbolises the gemstones with which the kings’ elaborate robes were adorned.

In Spain, the holiday is called: Los tres reyes or reyes magos, meaning the Three Wise Men, or the “Wise Men from the East”.

It takes place on the night of 5 to 6 January.

Later accounts identified the origin of the Three Wise Men by their names: Melchior came from Persia, Gaspar from India and Balthasar from Arabia.

“The “Wise Men from the East” are well defined in the apocryphal gospels, where “magi” is to be understood as a synonym for astrologers.

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This holiday is celebrated in various parts of the world. Portugal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela, Italy, Mexico or France are some of the countries that maintain certain traditions, while in Spain the tradition of giving children gifts on the night of the Three Wise Men began in the 19th century.

As the custom of having gifts brought by Santa Claus began to spread in other countries, the Spanish custom of having gifts brought by the Three Wise Men spread as a kind of imitation of that practice, albeit with a more religious background.

In 1866, the first “reyes magos” parade took place in Alcoy, but it was not until 1885 that the custom was officially recognised by the Spanish government and spread throughout the rest of the country, and was adopted by other countries of Hispanic culture.

As the custom of having gifts brought by Santa Claus began to spread in other countries, the Spanish custom of having gifts brought by the Three Wise Men spread as a kind of imitation of that practice, albeit with a more religious background.

In 1866, the first “reyes magos” parade took place in Alcoy, but it was not until 1885 that the custom was officially recognised by the Spanish government and spread throughout the rest of the country, and was adopted by other countries of Hispanic culture.

This year, the festive parade (Cavalcada) will take place again in Palma. Completely without masks, but with live music and thirteen floats. The kings will have 2000 kilos of sweets with them for the little ones. It all starts at 18:00 at the “Moll Vell”. It’s also great for the children that this year the city council will once again set up the “royal mailboxes”. Children can drop their letters to the Three Wise Men into them.

And what’s better? The Three Wise Men? Or Santa Claus? If you ask me: both!

Merry Christmas!

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