Thousands of children and families in Madrid celebrate the traditional
Three Kings Parade

MADRID, SPAIN (JANUARY 05, 2008) REUTERS -
Madrid's streets were lined with thousands of eager onlookers of all
ages there to watch the annual Three Kings Parade on Monday (January 05)
The parade is celebrated every year on the eve of what is traditionally
one of the most important date in Spain's festive Christmas calendar, "el
Dia de los Reyes Magos" (Three Kings Day), and during the event sweets
and other small presents are thrown to the watching crowds from floats and by
street performers walking alongside them.

Coming twelve days after Christmas, Three Kings Day represents the
culmination of the Christmas festivities and the arrival of gifts and presents
that will be distributed, if children are good, during the early hours of the
following day.

"The Three Kings are those that went to Bethlehem to see when the
child (Jesus) was born. What they do every year is, during the night of
January the fifth to the sixth, make all the children happy, they bring them
what they asked for," said Rodrigo, one of those watching the spectacular
parade, which this year was lead by three mechanical elephants.

The Three Kings have been visiting Spanish children for generation. The
town of Alcoy in Alicante boasts of the first recorded parade in 1866, and the
tradition remains strong despite the ever greater influence of Father
Christmas or Santa Claus.

Otherwise known as the Epiphany, Three Kings Day commemorates the
arrival of the three wise men, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar who travelled
from afar, following a star to Bethlehem, to see the new-born baby Jesus and
gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The lay custom of giving gifts and toys to children on January 06 dates
back to the 19th century.

There are certain things that must be done to ensure that the modern
day Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar stop at your house, including putting your
shoes out for the presents and leaving something for the kings and their
camels.

"Be good and leave some sweets and some milk under the Christmas
tree so that they take it," said Maria, a Spanish girl watching the
parade.

More than half of all Spaniards continue to exchange presents on Three
Kings Day, in contrast to a minority who prefer to go with Father Christmas,
because the children can enjoy more time with their presents during the
seasonal holidays.