6 January ’06, Friday.
Well tonight is it, Los Tres Reyes Day !!! A national holiday for Spain, with all the stores, banks, and just about every other type of business closed. For those on vacation down here, a lot of the restaurants and most of the bars remained open. January 6, the last day of Christmas, comes with its own traditions, rituals and symbols. Carolers are going from house to house. In many homes around the area, Christmas trees are taken down and in some areas, burnt in a big bonfire. For the children this is an especially happy occasion because, associated with taking down the tree, goes the "plundering" (or raiding) of the tree. The sweets, (chocolate ornaments wrapped in foil) and cookies, which have replaced the “sugar plums”, are the raiders' rewards. Of course, the 12 days of Christmas end with the Feast of Epiphany (The Adoration of the Magi). It was the 3 kings that saw the Star of Bethlehem and found the Christ child. Last night Louise and I went into Benidorm to watch the arrival of the 3 Kings and the start of the Celebration. The crowds were thick, the kids excited, and the adults anticipating a great time for all. The parade wasn’t to start until just after 6pm, so we went into town about 3:30 to make sure we could find a good location (and hopefully a seat) to watch the excitement. We were a little early…well hell, we were a lot early. It started to feel like the town hadn’t got the message about the parade being at 6. As far as finding a seat…no problem…we had our choice of about 1200+. Feeling a little awkward, we found a seat and sat…sat for a long time before anyone else started to do the same. Finally, about 2 minutes before 6, people started to come out and find a chair. Now we are feeling much better, colder, but better. Now let’s get on with the parade. Just before 7, we heard our first indication that there really was going to be a parade…a “Boomer”, and then about 3 more to announce the night had started. Our chairs weren’t free ($4ea), but they sure were worth it. We enjoyed seeing camels, donkeys, cattle, horses, sheep, a flock of geese and turkeys?... What is it with the turkeys? There were about a dozen of them, they were all right at our feet and wanting to get through us to freedom…go turkey go. I wanted to grab one for dinner, but Louise grabbed my hand just as I was about to score a nice one…. Oh yes, then there was the marching bands and dancers, floats and many other exciting things and people to see. All were dressed beautifully in “Gladiator” type costumes. There was even a baby tiger that was led by on his leash…sooo cute. Finally the last to come were the 3 Kings, mounted on their highly decorated camels, and making the night for all the kids in attendance. We jumped right in behind the Kings (as did everyone else) and followed them through the rest of the parade route. Finally at the end, they dismounted from their camels (with a little difficulty) and went up onto a huge stage. Already there, was a baby (a real live one) waiting in a cradle. As the Kings came up and made their presentation of gifts, the sky lit up with incredible fireworks that seemed to last for ever. What a great night… we missed being home with the family, but being here was wonderful.
Well tonight is it, Los Tres Reyes Day !!! A national holiday for Spain, with all the stores, banks, and just about every other type of business closed. For those on vacation down here, a lot of the restaurants and most of the bars remained open. January 6, the last day of Christmas, comes with its own traditions, rituals and symbols. Carolers are going from house to house. In many homes around the area, Christmas trees are taken down and in some areas, burnt in a big bonfire. For the children this is an especially happy occasion because, associated with taking down the tree, goes the "plundering" (or raiding) of the tree. The sweets, (chocolate ornaments wrapped in foil) and cookies, which have replaced the “sugar plums”, are the raiders' rewards. Of course, the 12 days of Christmas end with the Feast of Epiphany (The Adoration of the Magi). It was the 3 kings that saw the Star of Bethlehem and found the Christ child. Last night Louise and I went into Benidorm to watch the arrival of the 3 Kings and the start of the Celebration. The crowds were thick, the kids excited, and the adults anticipating a great time for all. The parade wasn’t to start until just after 6pm, so we went into town about 3:30 to make sure we could find a good location (and hopefully a seat) to watch the excitement. We were a little early…well hell, we were a lot early. It started to feel like the town hadn’t got the message about the parade being at 6. As far as finding a seat…no problem…we had our choice of about 1200+. Feeling a little awkward, we found a seat and sat…sat for a long time before anyone else started to do the same. Finally, about 2 minutes before 6, people started to come out and find a chair. Now we are feeling much better, colder, but better. Now let’s get on with the parade. Just before 7, we heard our first indication that there really was going to be a parade…a “Boomer”, and then about 3 more to announce the night had started. Our chairs weren’t free ($4ea), but they sure were worth it. We enjoyed seeing camels, donkeys, cattle, horses, sheep, a flock of geese and turkeys?... What is it with the turkeys? There were about a dozen of them, they were all right at our feet and wanting to get through us to freedom…go turkey go. I wanted to grab one for dinner, but Louise grabbed my hand just as I was about to score a nice one…. Oh yes, then there was the marching bands and dancers, floats and many other exciting things and people to see. All were dressed beautifully in “Gladiator” type costumes. There was even a baby tiger that was led by on his leash…sooo cute. Finally the last to come were the 3 Kings, mounted on their highly decorated camels, and making the night for all the kids in attendance. We jumped right in behind the Kings (as did everyone else) and followed them through the rest of the parade route. Finally at the end, they dismounted from their camels (with a little difficulty) and went up onto a huge stage. Already there, was a baby (a real live one) waiting in a cradle. As the Kings came up and made their presentation of gifts, the sky lit up with incredible fireworks that seemed to last for ever. What a great night… we missed being home with the family, but being here was wonderful.