Tres Reyes celebration - Spanish Christmas

The Spaniards just love their celebrations, and take every opportunity for a fiesta. They are also very fond of keeping the old traditions alive. And that definitely also goes for Christmas. For sure. They go all in on January 5, on dia de los Reyes Magos, which is their official Christmas and where the 6 is a national holiday.

But first they do Christmas as we know it, on December 24 and 25, when most people in Europe celebrate Christmas (which is inspired by the Europeans, since the tradition does not have Santa Clause in Spain) But the celebration does not stop there. Christmas is kind of a two week holiday in Spain. The Christmas markets and festivities continues until January 6, that is the end of Christmas. Let me tell you why. And it is very cute, nice, admirable, beautiful, fun and huge. And believe it, they go all in. On the evening of January 5 they celebrate (big time) the Dia de los Reyes Magos, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, the three Kings or the three wise men, and they call their "santa" for papa noel. And this my friends is the real Christmas in Mallorca. The biggest celebration is in Palma, but almost every little village has their own celebration, such as Puerto Portals, Port de Soller, Puerto Alcudia and Port de Pollenca. The three kings usually arrive by boat, but in some villages even on horses.

Mallorquin children write a list (maybe adults to), to one of their favourite kings, telling him what he or she would like. On January 5, children leave sweets, food, wine or milk out or under the Christmas tree, for the visiting king along with a polished shoe, who replaces the food items with gifts. The following morning, on the day of the Epiphany, the 12 day of Christmas, they find presents (or coal, depending on their luck) near their shoes. Epiphany, also known as Three Kings' Day, is a Christian feast day which falls on January 6. It is a special date for many Christians, as it's when people celebrate how a star led the Magi - also known as the Three kings or the Wise Men - to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born

If you want to see the Three Kings arrive with their boat and dock in the harbour, you should take a short walk down to Moll Vell in Palma at 18.00, before the procession when 13 floats and 41 troupes passes through Avenida de Antonio Maura, which is the big main street from Palmas harbour up towards Passeig de Borne. It is usually very crowded at this time, but it is for sure a celebration you do not want to miss. They throw out candy (5000 kg) to the children on their way to Plaza de Cort. At around 20.15 the three kings arrive at the Town Hall to greet the children from the Cort Balcony.

The festivities continues with music and concerts until midnight.

If you are staying at the Boutique hotel Ocho Suites and Kitchen, you will literally just have the parade around the corner. Just a small and charming alley from where it all happens. The hotel is personally and exclusively decorated, with seven beautiful suits. The interior is a mix of Miami meets Mallorca and definately one of Palmas gems.