Three Kings parades fill Catalan streets with magic, diversity, and candy

750,000 people take to the streets in Barcelona to see Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar

Page Estel greets the children of Barcelona during the Three Kings parade
Page Estel greets the children of Barcelona during the Three Kings parade / Maria Asmarat
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

January 6, 2025 10:38 AM

January 6, 2025 10:39 AM

The most magical night of the year returned to Catalonia with the celebration of the Three Kings parades up and down the country.

Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar once again did not miss, and visited on the night of January 5 to participate in hundreds of parades full of light, music, and sweets.

Children throwing sweets from one of the floats of the Tarragona cavalcade
Children throwing sweets from one of the floats of the Tarragona cavalcade / Mar Rovira

They arrived by every means imaginable; by sea in coastal cities like Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, and Mataró, or by plane in Reus.

Not even the most remote towns and villages were forgotten, where gifts were left for children and adults, and coal for those who didn't behave well through the year.

750,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona, according to data from the city council.

Children from Barcelona collecting candy during the Three Kings parade
Children from Barcelona collecting candy during the Three Kings parade / Maria Asmarat

The Three Wise Men were part of a large entourage of pages, emissaries, postmen, coalmen and dancers of all kinds who accompanied Their Majesties to the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc.

The parade in the Catalan capital had more than 1,300 participants, featured renovated floats such as the coal float, and some commemorative ones, such as the one celebrating the centenary of the metro.

King Gaspar throws candies from his float during the parade in Lleida
King Gaspar throws candies from his float during the parade in Lleida / Alba Mor

There were also giant inflatables, live music, and inclusive celebrations thanks to the participation of entities with people with functional diversity and the introduction of sign language in the choreographies.

In Tarragona, Melcior, Gaspar and Baltasar entered the Serrallo neighborhood spectacularly from the sea aboard a boat accompanied by fireworks.

King Melchior greeting children and families during the Tarragona parade
King Melchior greeting children and families during the Tarragona parade / Mar Rovira

In Lleida, the cavalcade had to adapt to the works on Rambla Ferran, which did not prevent 12 themed floats, children's characters and two tons of allergen-free candy from filling the street.

In Girona, some floats surprised with their innovative pedal design, a nod to sustainability, while the parade also incorporated a black herald as a symbol of diversity and inclusion.

The pages of King Balthasar in Girona
The pages of King Balthasar in Girona / Ariadna Reche

 

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