All is about for tomorow´s conventional Three Kings Parade ( Cabalgata de Reyes) with the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar in Madrid with their presents and messages of peace & goodwill to all.
In truth the Three Kings have already reported to be within the metropolis neighborhood and are anticipated to make some early appearances this night in a few of Madrid´s districts.
The parade which celebrates the eve of Epiphany ( twelfth evening) – the Magi´s go to and bringing of presents to the toddler Jesus – is likely one of the Madrid´s most anticipated occasions.
As lately the parade runs alongside the Paseo de la Castellana, beginning at 6.30pm in Nuevos Ministerios, on nook of Plaza San Juan de la Cruz and alongside Gregorio Marañón, Glorieta de Emilio Castelar, Plaza de Colón, Paseo de Recoletos and winds up within the Plaza de Cibeles at round 9pm.
Some 300,000 individuals are anticipated to welcome them, however in order for you a seat within the stands greatest get early as there are simply 8,000 seats alongside the Castellana and a pair of,500 within the Plaza de Cibeles.
As a substitute of the biblical frankincense, gold and myrrh, the three sensible males will probably be allotting 1,200 kgs of sweets to the throngs of youngsters who line the route.
Every of the biblical presents had a particular significance. Frankincense, a fragrance, was an emblem of deity, gold an emblem of kingship on earth and myrrh, which was generally used as an anointing oil, as an emblem of dying.
Madrid´s Cabalgata de Reyes is likely one of the largest parades within the metropolis´s calendar, full with elaborately floats ( this 12 months there are 13), audio system blaring out seasonal villancicos ( Spanish Christmas carols), in addition to a drone show working alongside Madrid´s foremost artery of the Paseo de Castellana earlier than reaching the Plaza de Cibeles Palace the place the Magi deal with the crowds of youngsters and fogeys.
Nevertheless it wasnt at all times so….
Celebrating the Epiphany in Spain was till the early twentieth century a riotous affair with consuming and merrymaking till the early hours – and far public dysfunction!
In a Madrid custom, on the night of the fifth, town´s working class guilds of evening watchmen, water carriers, porters and servants would clock off work early, drink lots and roam across the metropolis carrying torches, candles and in the midst of the group, a determine was held aloft on a ladder. His job was to identify the approaching Magi from afar and alert the group who would in flip make an almighty drunken noise to alert town!
The person atop the ladder was the lookout or oteador, who was normally the latest and youngest member of the guild and who performed the a part of the harmless, nonetheless believing within the existence of the Magi and their current giving. In line with the Spanish newspaper El Diario, he carried a eye cone used to imitate a telescope to see the arrival of the Magi´s procession.
This raucus custom continued till 1883, when the then mayor of Madrid stepped in and banned the processions, citing public order.
And so it stayed – till 1928 when Madrid´s first Cabalgata befell. In line with Madrid´s Metropolis Corridor archives, the parade was sponsored by the Madrid newspaper, El Heraldo de Madrid to present Christmas presents to Madrid´s poor and disadvantaged kids.
The Spanish Civil Struggle of 1936 -1939 introduced Madrid´s official festivities to a halt however got here again in 1953 when the Franco period metropolis council initiated a semi navy parade that includes a cavalcade and Three Kings.
By the 1960´s this had advanced into one thing like what Madrid has as we speak, with native teams and group floats within the parade to escort the Magi via Madrid.
For 2024, hundreds of households with a mess of youngsters will as soon as extra give an actual Madrid welcome to Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar.
¡Feliz Reyes!
