Spain: Three Kings parade celebrates the eve of the Epiphany

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Spain: Three Kings parade celebrates the eve of the Epiphany

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The parade is held every year on the eve of the Epiphany to celebrate the Christian holiday.

06 January,2012 01:16 pm

The Three Kings - Melchoir, Caspar and Balthasar - take part in an extraordinary parade that sparks excitement in the streets of Madrid, as the Spanish capital celebrates the eve of the day of the Epiphany.Euphoria enveloped the streets of Madrid as thousands of children and adults lined one the main throughways of the Spanish capital to watch the traditional Three Kings - or Three Wise Men - parade on Thursday.The parade is held every year on the eve of the Epiphany to celebrate the Christian holiday and the story of the Three Wise Men.The Gospel of Matthew says the Three Kings followed a bright star to offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus.In Madrid though, the Three Kings - Melchoir, Caspar and Balthasar - just brought candies.... thousands of candies, which they, along with their helpers and other extraordinary and peculiar members of the parade, tossed into euphoric crowds of children and their equally excited parents.The Three Kings parade ushers in one of Spains most important holidays- Three Kings Day which for many is more important than even Christmas.Much like with Santa Claus, Spanish children write letters to the Three Wise Men asking them for gifts which are left on the night of Epiphany.