Spain - The Three Kings Parade

 The Days are beautiful, clear blue skies, a warm sun and for some reason a beer just tastes better on the beach with a view like this one!

Things are going pretty well here in Spain. Orange trees line the streets and the atmosphere is indescribable. I even had a chance to touch the Mediterranean ocean....2 down, 3 to go!

We got invited to a BBQ at our lovely landlord and new friend Brenda's house, the guest list included Brenda and her husband, Their two neighbors, the 2 year old daughter and of course Magic the Shitzu. We had typical BBQ grub, chicken breast, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, and pita bread! It was all super yummy and kind of a nice taste of the food we are use to! For Dessert we had a cake that is made only this time of year during the festival of the Three Kings. Its a really large doughnut shaped cake (more like a sweet bread) that is cut in half, loaded up with whipped cream and then covered with candied fruit and sugar! The Special part about the whole thing is that inside are 3 "treasures" and one of them is a "seed or bean" and the fun part is who ever gets the seed has to pay for the cake....I GOT THE SEED! but thankfully being a newbie they didn't make me pay!

Los Tres Reyes Magos literally means "The Three King Wizards", but is usually interpreted to mean "The Three Wise Men" or "The Three Kings".  Their celebration day (January 6th)  is refered to as "Three Kings Day" or just "The Day of the Kings".
As you may know the Three Kings, Balthasar (Spanish = Baltasar), Gaspar and Melchior (Spanish = Melchor) arrived twelve days after the birth of Jesus, bearing their famous gifts of gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 
As such in Spain, this is the day that people give and receive gifts.   And as children in the United States and other countries might wait with great anticipation the arrival of Santa Claus, in Spain the children await the arrival of the Three Kings.
On January 5th in most Spanish towns is the "la cabalgata" (the calvacade) which is a parade marking the arrival of the Three Kings.  The Three Kings ride on floats throwing candy to the children.  In the Town Murcia that we are in the Three Kings arrive by ship! 
After the parade the children return to their homes to prepare for the arrival of the Three Kings.  They place their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots and barley for the donkeys of the Three Kings.  Sometimes they might also leave some food for the Three Kings.  The next morning the children wake up early to open their presents. Although the children like all of the Three Kings, their favorite is Baltasar because he is the one who it is believed actually leaves the gifts.  This is also the day that adults will get their presents although of course these are not delivered by the Three Kings.

We got to witness the parade and the excited kids and parents, got to listen to some Christmas music, and find our way home to crash at 9pm! 

Staying awake late is hard when your on Vacation! 

Love Kristen xoxox