An estimated 500,000 people filled the streets of Barcelona on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany for the Cabalgata de Reye, or three kings parade.
Crowds lined the streets to welcome the three kings – Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar – who arrived by boat at the port before parading through the city on elaborately decorated floats.
Seven tonnes of sweets rained down on the eager crowd, with children and adults catching them in their upturned umbrellas.
The traditional Spanish parade commemorates the manifestation of Christ to humanity, represented by the three kings, or magi, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus (see Matthew 2).
While Christians in the UK typically exchange gifts on Christmas Day, in many other nations, including Spain, Christians reserve this custom for Epiphany. Children write to the three kings rather than Father Christmas, who then bring presents on 6 January.
In Mexico, Epiphany is marked by the baking of a special sweet bread, often concealing a surprise gift inside. In the Czech Republic, brave swimmers plunge into Prague’s icy Vltava river wearing crowns, while in the Philippines, children leave shoes out hoping to receive sweets and money from the three kings.
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