Friday 4 January 2008

Three Kings Night

Three Kings Night (El Noche de Los Reyes)........traditionally a time in Spain when Christmas presents are given and received. Throughout Spain, processions take place in towns and villages on the evening of the 5th January, where the Kings and their attendants throw sweets and small presents to the assembled crowds.



The expectant crowds assembling for the start of the procession.




















The Olvera Town Band at the head of the procession.















The first float past carried what presumably were the star(s) of Bethlehem, followed by three more each containing a King and his attendants.
From each of the floats are thrown sweets and small presents and there's a mad scramble to catch them. Most of the children(and some of the adults) came equipped with plastic carrier bags to collect the sweets but note the upturned umbrella in the pic below, which is a common technique to ensure you get your fair share.







No attempt at crowd control.......just push and shove and grab what you can.




My lovely Anne. By the time the parade arrived, we had been down town for about two hours and it was starting to get a bit cold. The parade was advertised to start at 5pm, confirmed by asking a local policeman, but we should know better ........there is european time and then there's spanish time.......as it was more like 6.30'ish when it eventually appeared.






It was a lovely event and the pics do not really convey the excitement and anticipation of the children (or some of the adults) at the prospect of filling their bags and pockets with sweets and other goodies.



Linked post:
Arrival of the Kings

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