What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain?

What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain
Three Kings Day On the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6, we celebrate Three Kings Day! Celebrated most in Europe, Spain, and Latin America, ‘El Dia de los Reyes’, as it’s called in Spanish, marks the glorification of baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.

What is celebrated on January 6 in Spain?

In the first week of January, just as the rest of the Christmas-celebrating world is reluctantly getting back into their routines and probably kick-starting a healthy diet and fitness plan, Spanish children are waiting expectantly for the Three Wise Men to arrive.

After Christmas and New Year , the lucky Spanish still have another family day of celebration to come, in the form of the arrival of the Reyes Magos , the Wise Men from the East who followed a star and came bearing gifts for the Baby Jesus.

The 6 th of January is always a bank holiday in Spain, spinning out the festivities for an extra week. But why is the Epiphany holiday in Spain such a big deal and how is it celebrated? Read on to find out a bit about the history of the Reyes Magos day , and why Spanish children have to wait until the 6 th of January to get their Christmas presents.

Ever wondered what the ’12 days of Christmas’ actually are, beyond just an excuse for a good sing-along? Officially, Christmas kicks off on the 25 th of December and carries on until the 6 th of January.

In the UK, the 6 th of January is generally a bit of a depressing day, as it’s the day you’re meant to take your Christmas decorations down, as leaving them up any longer is supposed to be bad luck. But in Spain, the Feast of the Epiphany or the Three Kings’ Day is a celebration of the adoration of the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi, or the Three Kings.

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar travelled to present baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. They’re said to have ridden on a horse, a camel and an elephant. This feast is celebrated all over the Christian world, but it’s traditionally just marked by mass, although there are other Epiphany celebrations that go on.

In many Catholic countries, it’s also a bank holiday, but in most places, it isn’t associated with gift giving, despite the Three Wise Men’s gifts. In Spain, however, the fact that the Three Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus meant that, when the tradition of gifts being brought by Father Christmas began to spread in other countries, the Spanish custom of the gifts being brought by the Three Kings spread up as a kind of imitation of it, with more of a religious slant.

The celebrations of the arrival of the biblical wise men to Bethlehem kick off on the 5 th of January;
Since the 19 th century, Spanish towns and cities have been putting on parades to mark the occasion;

There might be floats with effigies of each of the Three Wise Men in the parade, or they might be played by local dignitaries. Either way, these are big, colourful parades that make their way through the main streets of the town, throwing handfuls of sweets out over the crowds.

These are fun, light-hearted parades, in contrast to the sombre parades during Holy Week, or Semana Santa;
Just like children waiting up for Father Christmas, Spanish children have to get to bed early after watching the parades, to make sure they don’t miss the Wise Men bearing gifts;

They leave their best pair of shoes, sparkling clean, outside their doors to be filled with gifts. Again, just like with Father Christmas, Spanish children write letters to the Three Wise Men before the big day and leave out snacks and drinks for their camels.

Naughty children might get sweet ‘coal’ in their shoes instead of gifts. In the past, this was the only day that Spanish children received presents, but these days many lucky kids get presents from Father Christmas as well.

The 6 th is another family day, with everyone coming together to watch the kids unwrapping presents, and there’s normally another big family meal. The day wouldn’t be complete without the traditional Roscón de Reyes , sweet circular bread with sugar and dried fruits on top.

There’s a little model of a king or queen hidden inside, and whoever finds it gets to be king or queen for the day;
There’s also normally a bean in there, and whoever gets that has to buy the sweet treat the following year;

What better way to kick off a new year than treating yourself to a holiday? There might not be any Three Wise Men coming to bring you presents, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself the ultimate gift and spend a few days in Spain right at the start of the year.

Skip the depressing, post-New Year slump when the nights are at their shortest and all the Christmas lights are being taken down and head south for some much-needed sunshine. See the Epiphany celebration in Spain for yourself, whether it’s in one of the country’s stunning big cities , on the sun-kissed south coast, or even in the Canary Islands, where it’s spring all year round.

Take the kids and let them enjoy the magic of this quintessentially Spanish experience, all whilst staying in one of the best family friendly hotels .

What is the holiday celebrated on January 6?

Epiphany is observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Christians of other Western traditions. Eastern traditions that follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar celebrate Epiphany on January 19, since their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.

What happens in Spain Epiphany Day?

What is Epiphany in Spain? – On Epiphany Day, Spain celebrates the visit of the Reyes Magos , or ” Biblical Magi ,” from the Orient to the newborn Baby Jesus. They brought him gold, incense, and myrrh as gifts. Some people also celebrate Epiphany as the day on which Jesus was baptized , thus “revealing” the Holy Trinity.

Is Epiphany a bank holiday in Spain?

Epiphany observed on January 7 is a public holiday in most Spanish regions whenever Epiphany on January 6 is on a Sunday. What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain The three kings are also called wise men or magi. ©iStockphoto. com/kim258.

What do the Spanish eat at Epiphany?

Epiphany cake covered in candied fruits and nuts is a firm favourite in Spain. The baker often inserts a dry bean and a prize inside the Epiphany cake. The one who gets the prize can wear a cardboard golden crown. The person who gets the bean has to pay for the cake next year!.

What food is eaten on Three Kings Day in Spain?

Holiday Food #6: Roscón de Reyes – In Barcelona, the holiday season comes to its climactic close on January 5, the day known as Three Kings or Three Magi/Magicians. Neighborhoods in Barcelona celebrate this holiday with parades in which the three kings who brought Jesus gifts are the centerpiece. What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain The roscón is a cake made especially for Three Kings Day. It is a round cake with candied fruits. The middle of the cake usually features some sort of cream-based filling. Hiding within the yummy confines of the dessert is a figurine of a king or of Jesus. The lucky person who gets the figurine gets good luck and fortune for the year.

The parades are usually extravagant and immensely fun for young and old alike;
The kings and other participants in the parade throw candies to children;
The cake often features a small bean, as well;
The person who gets the bean has to pay for the cake;

There are many other holiday-centered culinary traditions in Spain. This is meant to give you an overview of some of the more popular dishes and traditions.

What Sunday is Epiphany in 2022?

Epiphany for the year 2022 is celebrated/ observed on Thursday, January 6th. Epiphany also called Three Kings’ Day, Theophany, Denha, Little Christmas, and Baptism of Jesus is celebrated on January 6th each year according to the Gregorian calendar and what most Western Christian Churches follow. Many Eastern Christian Churches will celebrate Epiphany on January 19th because they follow the Julian calendar.

Western Churches celebrate Epiphany with a feast that commemorates the visit of the Magi (Three Kings, or Three Wise Men) to baby Jesus, signifying Jesus’s physical revealing to the Gentiles. In some Western Churches the day starts the liturgical season of Epiphanytide that follows Christmastide and ends on different days depending on the denomination of the Church.

Eastern Churches will celebrate Epiphany by commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River (Qasr el Yahud West Bank and Al-Maghtas East Bank as location for baptism of Jesus) as the revealing or manifestation of Jesus to the world. Some countries celebrate Epiphany on the first Sunday after January 1 and in Columbia they celebrate the day on the second Sunday of January.

Is Epiphany a Holy Day of Obligation 2022?

Catholic Church Festivals 2022 –


Date	Day	Holyday
Every Week	Sunday	Every Sunday
25 December	Sunday	Nativity of the Lord
6 January	Thursday	Epiphany of the Lord
2 March	Wednesday	Ash Wednesday
17 April	Sunday	Easter Sunday
26 May	Thursday	Ascension Day
5 June	Sunday	Pentecost
19 June	Sunday	The Body and Blood of the Lord
29 June	Wednesday	St. Peter & St. Paul
15 August	Monday	Assumption
1 November	Tuesday	All Saints
27 November	Sunday	First Sunday of Advent

Catholic Church Festivals 2022.

Who celebrates Christmas on January 6th?

What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain by Hratch Tchilingirian “Armenian Christmas,” as it is popularly called, is a culmination of celebrations of events related to Christ’s Incarnation. Theophany or Epiphany (or Astvadz-a-haytnootyoon in Armenian) means “revelation of God,” which is the central theme of the Christmas Season in the Armenian Church. During the “Armenian Christmas” season, the major events that are celebrated are the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem and His Baptism in the River Jordan.

The day of this major feast in the Armenian Church is January 6th. A ceremony called “Blessing of Water” is conducted in the Armenian Church to commemorate Christ’s Baptism. It is frequently asked as to why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th with the rest of the world.

Obviously, the exact date of Christ’s birth has not been historically established—it is neither recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6th until the fourth century. According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6th to December 25th in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25th.

At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25th as the official date of Christmas and January 6th as the feast of Epiphany.

However, Armenia was not effected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia, on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6th until today.

In the Holy Land: January 19th In the Holy Land, the Orthodox churches use the old, Julian calendar—which has a difference of 13 days with the Gregorian (or “Western” calendar in use today—to determine the date of the religious feasts.

Accordingly, the Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 19th and the Greek Orthodox celebrate on January 6th. On the day before Armenian Christmas, January 18th, the Armenian Patriarch together with the clergy and the faithful, travels from Jerusalem to the city of Bethlehem, to the Church of Nativity of Christ, where elaborate and colorful ceremonies take place.

Outside, in the large square of the Church of Nativity, the Patriarch and his entourage are greeted by the Mayor of Bethlehem and City officials;
A procession led by Armenian scouts and their band, advance the Patriarch into the Church of Nativity, while priests, seminarians and the faithful join in the singing of Armenian Christmas hymns;

Afterwards, church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day, January 19th.

What is the big holiday in Spain?

Spanish Holidays FAQs – What are the main holidays in Spain? The biggest holidays in Spain are Christmas and Easter, each of which includes several days of festivities and unique traditions. There are also many other important holidays, such as All Saints Day (November 1), the National Day of Spain (October 12), and various regional and local celebrations.

How many national holidays are there in Spain? There are nine national holidays in Spain, from New Year’s and Three Kings Day to the Immaculate Conception and Christmas;
But considering all the regional and local festivos , most Spaniards get a total of around 14 days off work per year for official holidays;

Does Spain celebrate Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day isn’t a traditional holiday in Spain, but globalization has made it more common for people to celebrate. In Catalonia there’s actually a different day to celebrate love: April 23, when couples exchange books and flowers for the Dia de Sant Jordi.

Does Spain celebrate Halloween? Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated in Spain, and it’s certainly not as big of a deal as it is in the US, but these days many Spanish kids (and adults) dress up on October 31;

The following day, however, is an actual Spanish holiday. On November 1, people celebrate All Saints Day by paying tribute to loved ones who have passed away—and eating traditional sweets. What is Santa Claus called in Spain? Unlike in the US, Christmas in Spain doesn’t revolve around Santa Claus! You might hear Spaniards talking about San Nicolás or Papá Noel (Santa’s Spanish monikers), but kids are usually more excited about los Reyes Magos : the Three Wise Men, who leave presents for them to open on January 6 (Three Kings Day).

Does Spain celebrate Cinco de Mayo? No;
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated mostly in the US, and is a minor holiday in Mexico—but it has nothing to do with Spain;
Be careful not to confuse it with Dos de Mayo : a Spanish holiday celebrated on May 2 in Madrid, which commemorates the city’s rebellion against French troops in 1808;

Update Notice: This post was originally published on November 9, 2020 and was republished with new text and photos on May 5, 2021. Hungry for more? Sign up for my free weekly newsletter and receive a new Spanish recipe once a week! Join today and get my FREE Spanish ingredient essentials guide! –>.

What do Spanish eat on 6th January?

Roscón de Reyes – Once the 6th of January hits, the celebrations finally come to a close. This is the day that the 3 Kings are said to have visited the baby Jesus and it is when children typically receive their presents. The custom is to eat the roscón de Reyes , which is round in shape and sprinkled with sugar or candied fruit. Roscón de Reyes.

What do Spanish people do on Three Kings?

Each year, the three kings travel on camel from the East to visit all the children. When they arrive in Spain, several days after New Year’s Eve, they go to each of the villages to listen to the children’s requests and collect their letters.

What gifts are given on Three Kings Day?

Christmas and New Year’s may have ended, but that doesn’t mean the holiday season is over. For many Christians in Spain and Latin America, the holiday season officially ends on January 6, which is the 12th day of Christmas known as the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day.

The holiday celebrates the biblical tale in which the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, visit baby Jesus after his birth. In the Gospel of Mathew , the three Kings find baby Jesus by following the path of a star across the desert for twelve days.

According to the Gospel, the three Kings, named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar traveled to Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain The Three Wise Men are seen during the Three Kings parade on January 5, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images When Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the time of King Herod, the Three Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him,” the tale goes.

The gifts the Three Kings gave Jesus were meant to be symbolic. Gold was associated with the belief that Jesus was the King of Jews. Frankincense, which is often burned in churches today, was meant to represent the divine nature of Jesus and the fact that people would come to worship him as the Son of God.

And myrrh, a perfume sometimes used to embalm dead bodies, represented the fact that Jesus would eventually suffer and die. Each gift represented a distinct part of the baby’s destiny. Today, children celebrate Three Kings’ Day by receiving gifts of their own. What Holiday Is Celebrated On January 6Th In Spain A pastry shop seller prepares orders of ‘Roscones de Reyes’ at the Antigua Pasteleria del Pozo ahead of the Three Kings’ Day on January 3, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images Many families also leave gifts of salt or grass for the camels that the Three Kings are said to ride in on, similar to the milk and cookies kids leave for Santa Clause during Christmas. Parades and performances are also typical on Three Kings’ day.

Children in Spain and Latin America are instructed to leave their shoes by the door of their house so, like Santa Claus, the three kings can come and leave them presents;
For families in Spain and Latin America, Three Kings’ Day is as important and as widely celebrated as Christmas;

In Mexico, bakers make a “rosca del rey”, a sweet bread meant to represent a King’s crown, that is a mile long. People fill the streets to get a slice of the special holiday bread. The bread often has a baby Jesus doll hidden inside. In Spain, the streets fill with revelers gathering to watch parades that take place in cities across the country the day before Three Kings’ Day.

What is King’s day in Spain?

On the evening of January 5th every year, Spanish towns and cities are given over to the colourful parades of the Dia de los Reyes, or the Kings’ Day – a celebration of the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth.

What do Spanish eat on 6th January?

How does Spain celebrate Dia de los Reyes?

January 5: The Three Kings Day parade – Festivities officially start the day before the actual feast day of los reyes magos. On January 5, parades take place throughout the country to celebrate the arrival of the kings. Spanish families line the streets of their hometown to get a glimpse of the cabalgata de los reyes magos, or Three Kings Day parade.

What happens in Spain in January?

During the first days of the new year it’s time for one of the most emblematic Christmas celebrations in Spain: the Procession of the Three Kings. Every 5 January, the streets are packed with excited children waiting to see the three wise men from the East, Kings – Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar – loaded with presents.

This is an especially important event in some places, such as Alcoy, for example, the scene of the oldest Procession of the Three Kings in all of Spain, and in Santillana del Mar and Sangüesa where autos sacramentales are staged (these are plays, rather like English Morality Plays).

In January you can also enjoy other unusual celebrations such as the of “La Vijanera” festivities in Silió, a sort of carnivalesque event to attract good luck for the coming year. The middle of the month is a great time for sport lovers who have the chance to participate in the international urban race, the “Noche de San Antón” , which is organised during the festival of Las Lumbres (the ‘Flames of San Antón’) Here you can see some of the festivals that usually take place in Spain in January.

What happens on Kings day in Spain?

– What’s the origin? According to the Bible, three wise men went to visit the newborn baby Jesus in Bethlehem and came bearing gifts. Their names were Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, and they brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn savior.

The Three Wise Men (or Three Kings as translated from Spanish) have been honored in various European countries since the Middle Ages;
Usually, the dates of January 6th and 7th are symbolic of representing the birth of Jesus, in contrast to December 25th as celebrated in the western world;

When the tradition of Santa Claus bringing gifts to children on Christmas Day became popular, the Spanish culture adapted to this and used los Reyes Magos as the gift-bringers instead. What do they do to celebrate this day? On January 5th, in anticipation for the arrival of the Three Kings, Spanish towns and cities across the country put on spectacular parades.

This parade is known as the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day parade. It brings dancers, musicians, and other brilliant performers to the streets. The parade finishes with the reyes magos riding on camels or elaborate floats.

The best thing about the parade for children are the Three Kings who throw sweets and candy from the floats into the crowds. On the morning of January 6th, children awake to presents brought from the Reyes Magos. Usually this day is spent with family and there is a big lunch to be prepared and enjoyed by all.

Not forgetting another big tradition on January 6th which is the Roscón de Reyes. This is a ring-shaped cake that is covered with small pieces of candy that are supposed to represent the jewels of the crown.

It’s a sweet bread cake that can have cream inside and dried fruit on top too. The fun part of the cake is that there are two things hidden inside. One is a haba bean – whoever finds this is the unlucky one and their punishment is to buy the Roscón! The second surprise is a toy – whoever finds this is the king or queen of the day!.