Cavalcada de Reis, or the Cavalcade of Magi, is the culmination of the winter holidays for all children across Catalonia. The arrival of the Three Kings — Melchior, Gaspar, and Baltasar — occurs on January 5 and is eagerly awaited by kids across the country who have written letters to the Magi requesting holiday presents. The Cavalcade of Magi rounds up the Christmas celebration season nicely with a fun parade and lots of candy thrown around.
The Cavalcade of Magi is traditionally a colourful procession of floats, carriages and marching bands welcoming the Three Kings’ arrival to town. Magi’s page boys throw sweets at the spectators, so children come equipped to collect as much candy as possible.
The night of the arrival of the Three Kings, children must go to bed early after polishing their shoes. If they have been well-behaved in the previous year, the next morning they receive the presents they requested from the Magi. Badly-behaved children receive coal instead of gifts, although that is a very rare occurrence indeed!
