If you thought the 25th of December would be the highlight of Christmas in Javea – think again.,In Spain, the fiesta of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) is celebrated between 5th-6th January. For children and families alike it is undoubtedly the biggest event of the winter.

To any protestant or citizen of an English-speaking country, the giving of presents on the eve of 6th January seems odd.

But in actual fact it makes the most sense of all.

The day commonly known as Epiphany is celebrated as the day the Three Wise Men (or The Three Kings) visited the baby Jesus, as he lay in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. This day is 6th January – which the Gospel according to Matthew says featured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Also read: Javea’s Festivals

Spain has been celebrating this day by giving gifts to children since at least the 1800s.

Christmas Day – 25th December – is instead a day reserved for get-togethers with the family accompanied by traditional meals (usually a lot of them).

Now you know a little more, it makes sense to give gifts on 6th January, right?

This is the case across most of the Spanish-speaking world. And in Spain itself, it’s usually a much grander affair that sees people in towns across the country join in on the parades, pass their young children up to be kissed by the Reyes Magos on horseback or camels, and then enjoy a meal out with the whole family.

The festivities are typically accompanied by traditional music, nativity plays and fireworks.
Oh – and you’ll also see a lot of round, hollow cakes going around. These are called the Roscón de Reyes. Typically they contain a figurine of a king inside as well as a hard bean. Whoever gets the king in their slice is the ‘rey’ for the day; whoever gets the bean has to pay for next year’s roscón!