We are entering the last days of the Christmas season, with the traditional Three Kings Day, the pinnacle of Catalan and Spanish celebrations for these special dates. Like Santa Claus, the Three Wise Men are also eagerly awaited by the youngest members of the household, who long for the moment to open the last gifts of the festive season.
In addition, Catalan towns also organise parades, filling the streets with sweets, music and families leaving their homes to welcome the Three Wise Men, who arrive, laden with gifts, after a very long journey.
If you don’t want to miss this magnificent tradition, we recommend you visit Barcelona or Costa Dorada. Get around with Shuttle2Sun‘s low-cost and sustainable private transfer services from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Origin of the Three Wise Men parades
First of all, we must know the origin of the Three Kings Day parades. The 6th of January, Epiphany, is celebrated in Spain, since, according to the Bible, it was the date on which the Three Wise Men travelled from the East to Bethlehem, guided by a star, with the objective of visiting Baby Jesus after his birth and presenting him with gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts.
It is worth noting that in the play ‘Auto de los Reyes Magos’, from the Middle Ages, these kings also appeared, but as astrologers, and their names were Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar. And later, during the Renaissance, famous painters depicted the traditional scene of the Magi adoring the Christ Child in their incredible works.
Secondly, the origin of the parades has several theories. On the one hand, the event ‘El Panerot’, in 1866, in Alcoy (Alicante), when several young people took to the streets in search of food and gifts for the most disadvantaged families. And secondly, the parades that were organised in Barcelona and Granada during the 19th century, with the objective of giving gifts to the neediest children.
Three Kings Parade in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the cities par excellence to enjoy the great Three Kings Parade, this coming Friday, 5th of January.
The arrival of the Three Wise Men, aboard the small schooner ‘Santa Eulàlia’, will be at 16:30 hours, at Portal de la Pau, where the Mayor of Barcelona will receive the Three Wise Men, giving them bread and salt, as well as the key to the city, as is the tradition in Barcelona.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m., where the Three Wise Men will be accompanied by their entourage in the many floats, travelling through the main streets of the city. The parade will start at Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera, passing along Passeig Colom, Avinguda Paral·lel, Ronda de Sant Pau, Mercat de Sant Antoni, Carrer Sepúlveda, Plaça Espanya and Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, and finally arriving at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. The route will also have spaces reserved for people with limited mobility.
In addition, there will be entertainment and different scenic disciplines, which will enliven the route. You can check all the tips for enjoying a good parade at this link.
Remember that you can get to Barcelona quickly and comfortably with Shuttle2Sun‘s low-cost and sustainable private transfer services from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Tarragona
The city of Tarragona, the capital of the province, also organises the Three Kings parade on the evening of the 5th of January. Starting at 6:15 pm, the Three Wise Men will arrive by sea, laden with gifts, to deliver them to the homes of families in Tarragona. In the port, the welcome speech will be made, as well as the fireworks to start the parade.
The parade will start at 7 p.m., from Plaça dels Infants and Carrer Reial, passing through the main streets and squares to Plaça de la Font, where the mayor will hand over the key of the city and King Melchior will give a message to all the children of Tarragona.
Other towns on Costa Daurada
On the evening of the 5th of January, the Three Wise Men will also be present in the coastal town of Salou, in the heart of Costa Dorada, handing out sweets and presents to the youngest members of the family. They will arrive at the port at 6 p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. onwards, you will be able to see them parade through the streets of the town centre, such as Carrer Barcelona and Carrer Ciutat de Reus, to Torre Vella, where they will be giving presents.
The town of Cambrils is not to be left out of this special tradition either, and has also prepared a very beautiful parade, with fireworks, entertainment and hot chocolate for all those who attend.
And if you haven’t yet handed in your letter of wishes to the Three Wise Men, you can do so in Plaça de l’Ajuntament on the same day, from 7 p.m. onwards.
Finally, don’t forget to visit the parade in Vila-seca, which has a different character to the rest, as you can enjoy an audiovisual show in the town’s castle and a parade with the royal entourage. You can also meet Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar up close during the traditional Three Wise Men parade through the different streets of the town.
Make the most of the Three Wise Men’s Parade in any of these towns. Choose the one that has caught your attention and visit it. If you arrive at Barcelona airport, Barcelona port or Camp de Tarragona AVE train station, remember that you have at your disposal the Shuttle2Sun private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, to get to Barcelona or Costa Dorada.
