La Cabalgata de Los Reyes

Hola!

We cleaned the WHOLE house today, and took down all the Christmas decorations.  I hate this time of the year.  You have to eat healthy now, and exercise, and study more, and take down all the decorations... :(

Well on another note, a cool one that is...
I just celebrated Los Reyes Magos!  Or the Three Kings day.
Here is a little history on this day :



Three Kings Day: In Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and some other Latin American countries Epiphany day is called El Día de los Reyes. The day when a group of Kings or Magi of the Bible arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. This day is also known as the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Royal Magi) or La Pascua de los Negros (Holy Day of the Blackmen), although the latter is rarely heard. In Spanish tradition, on the day of January 6th, three of the Kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. In Spain, Argentina, and Uruguay, children (and adults) polish and leave their shoes ready for the Kings' presents before they go to bed on January 5th. Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are left for the Kings and their camels. In Mexico, it is traditional for children to leave their shoes on the eve of January 6 by the family nativity scene or by their beds. Also a letter with toy requests is left and sometimes the shoes are filled with hay for the camels, so that the Kings will be generous with their gifts.


Source: http://www.sofritoforyoursoul.com/2009/01/mi-gentetoday-i.html

There are also Parades or Cabalgatas that throw out loads, and loads, of candy.  I mean they literally throw whole bags.  And soccer balls, and dolls, and little plastic cars.  But lemme tell ya, be careful,  because the little kids that throw the candy from the top of the parade floats chuck the little caramels with all their might.  So you come home with bruises on your back,  head,  FACE!

I went to three Cabalgatas, as they are known.
One in downtown Sevilla, the regional capitol, one in my town of Montequinto, and one in our puebla of Gerena.

Don't worry, I took PLENTY of pictures.
Here they are:

Sevilla 

Important officers

I couldn't move there were so many people.  I'm literally telling the truth.

Exhibit A

Not the Kings.  Just regular people in costumes.

He's everywhere. 

La Estrella

There is a "Star"  at the beginning of every Cabalgata.

The Candyy!  Seriously,  you can get more candy after 5 floats here in Spain than after the whole parade during the 4th of July.... A child's dream.

Music

Bob Esponja y Patricio

I really liked this one.

Kids from around the world

FOR NARNIA!!!!!  All hail Aslan

BOOOO the White Witch

Pretty Snazzy eh?

Ariel Float.  Notice the Mermaid in the Right hand corner.

This one was pretty good.  

It was unbelievable.  The people.  Gosh.  The metro was jam packed, too!!!!!

 I am going to upload the other pictures to another post.  Otherwise this one would stretch on for miles.

- Adios