January Love Letter

Christmas has come and gone, and now it’s time for two great Spanish holiday traditions—Los Reyes Magos and Las Rebajas, the Three Wise Men and the sales.

Santa Claus is an Anglo-Germanic tradition and, while he’s known here, he takes fourth place after the Three Wise Men. On the night of Jan. 5 (celebrated as Epiphany on Jan. 6) Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar come from the East bringing gifts for the baby Jesus and other good children. Bad children get coal. Spaniards celebrate Christmas with a huge meal, but the gift-giving waits for the Wise Men. All through December and early January you’ll see this trio dressed in robes and wearing crowns, sitting in stores with kids on their lap.

Baltasar, the African king, has historically been played by Spaniards in blackface. This practice doesn’t have the cultural baggage it does in the US, but it’s still jarring. With increasing numbers of Africans moving into Madrid, Baltasar is now more commonly seen played by Africans.

Of course, no holiday season would be complete without a parade, and Madrid puts on a huge one on Jan. 4, starting at 6pm from Plaza Corona Boreal, and passing through Calle Osa Mayor, Carretera de Húmera, Calle Golondrina, Avenida Galaxia, Calle Osa Mayor, and ending back at Plaza Corona Boreal.

If Los Reyes only brought you coal this year, take advantage of the sales starting after Jan. 6. Pretty much every store needs to reduce stock and make room for the spring fashions.

Sean McLachlan