LOS REYES MAGOS

I'm not sure how many countries celebrate the arrival of the three kings but I know it's not all of them. Other Spanish speaking countries don't so if anything I'm guessing it's a european thing. Los Reyes Magos translates to The Magic Kings, and on the eve of the fifth of January these kings arrive and on the morning of the sixth there are presents from them in every home. Basically it's like Santa Claus but like everything else more religion based. It makes sense really because, according to the story of the birth of Christ - reason for Christmas, the Kings were the ones who brought gifts to baby Jesus and they did arrive after he was already born.

I didn't and still don't know everything about these Kings, like their names and where they're from, but they are really important and everyone cares so much about them. Like Santa, the story of the three Kings really means a lot to children. You're supposed to write a letter to the Kings saying you were good this year and make a list of what you want. Then on the fifth the kings come. In Pamplona they come in the afternoon on camels with a small parade a go through the old part of the city to town hall where they are greeted. Then in the evening there is a huge parade. My friends and I stood on the side of the road literally for an hour and a half so that we had a good spot. The street we were on was packed and it was so cute seeing all the little kids so nervous and excited, running and screaming waiting in anticipation then jumping and clapping each time there were fireworks signifying each Kings arrival to the parade. It was another half an hour before we saw anything. But then came bands and dancers and people chucking candy and different floats. Some of my friends were actually in the parade so that was cool and I got a few extra handfuls of candy because of that. The whole parade was really well done. My highlight was when the camels came through, they were just carrying presents because each King had his own throne float, so the were being lead by someone and one guy lead his by the crowd and right up to me. I got to pet a camel. They're really soft. At the end of the parade were the kings. Each one was atop a different animal shaped float and everyone cheered and yelled the Kings name. The first one apparently is the best, the second it seemed no one cared about and the third is everyone's favourite - Balthazar, king of Africa also known as the black one. Everyone who's part of that float, including the King, paints their skin a dark brown, face hands everything that's seen so it was funny when I recognized my blond friend Yolanda dressed up for that part of the parade. About forty five minutes after the parade passed us I was walking with a friend to my bus stop and saw the parade again, still with a huge crowd - there are so many people in Pamplona and I was glad I watched the parade from where I did because I'm sure there were people there who waited at least three hours before seeing anything.

The morning of the sixth Sandra woke Lucas and I up telling us to come down to see if the Kings brought us anything. We went to the living room where there was already a fire made and a pile of wrapped gifts including one for me which I was not expecting since I got more than I wanted for Christmas from my host family. But apparently I mentioned I wanted more pajamas within the past week so mi madre got me me some. We all opened the parcel from Elias too and I was thrilled he sent peanut butter, I love my host brother I've never met just like the rest of this family. We had another big dinner with Sandra's cousins over and there's another tradition with the desert. There's a special cake that represents a crown that you eat and inside there is a little figurine King and bean. If you have the bean in your piece it means you have to pay for the cake or bring it next year. If you get the King it means you'll have good luck for the rest of the year. I got the King. It was Balthazar too - my favourite :)

Love this holiday.