Whether you are staying in a beachfront hotel or a city centre hideaway, everyone celebrates Christmas in Spain on January 6th. This year I was in Puerto Del Carmen on the Canarian Island of Lanzarote to witness it for myself for the first time.
So here is a bit of background to what goes on in typical Spanish towns as they celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on Jan 5th and 6th.
Officially, Christmas kicks off on the 25th of December and carries on until the 6th of January. In the UK, the 6th of January is the day you’re meant to take your Christmas decorations down, as leaving them up any longer is supposed to be bad luck.
However, in Spain, the Feast of the Epiphany or the Three Kings’ Day is a celebration of the adoration of the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi or the Three Kings.
Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar travelled to present baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Since the 19th century, Spanish towns and cities have been putting on parades to mark the occasion. There might be floats with effigies of each of the Three Wise Men in the parade, or they might be played by local dignitaries. Either way, these are big, colourful parades that make their way through the main streets of the town, throwing handfuls of sweets out over the crowds.
Just like children waiting for Father Christmas, Spanish children have to get to bed early after watching the parades to ensure they don’t miss the Wise Men bearing gifts. They leave their best pair of shoes, sparkling clean, outside their doors to be filled with gifts. Again, just like with Father Christmas, Spanish children write letters to the Three Wise Men before the big day and leave out snacks and drinks for their camels. Naughty children might get sweet ‘coal’ in their shoes instead of gifts.
Want to see more about my time in Puerto Del Carmen?
Then click on this video link and enjoy the special Christmas soundtrack too!
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