(Their Majesties the Kings of the East travel through Almeria today!)
Last night we drove into Almeria (40 min from here) so we could partake in this cultural experience. Most of you know I want nothing to do with large crowds of pedestrians but this was a cultural event and it needed to be seen. We were told it was going to be a mob scene and everyone was right although, I have to say…we had a lot of fun.
As I mentioned in an earlier posting, the Spaniards don’t really celebrate December 25, although children do tend to get a gift that day (notice how I said “a” gift). Their real celebration for Christmas is the arrival of the three wise men (Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar) on the night of January 5th (think 12 days of Christmas). This is the night children put out their shoes with the hopes of it being filled with a few goodies such as oranges and sweets (I hear they also receive a few gifts).
As in most cities in Spain, January 5th is commemorated with the three wise men being escorted through town on large, illuminated floats. In Almeria, along with the king’s floats, there were other, more commercial ones featuring Snow White, Shrek and the national postal service (a sponsor?). Riding each of the floats were children whose job it was to throw candy into the crowds, it was kind of like Mardi Gras! We found ourselves joining in with the crowd, trying to get those kids to throw candy in our direction.
The parade also featured live elephants, camels and raptors as well as bands (for the musical aspect), dancers and a few rather esoteric numbers including a man on
stilts, wearing a giant, inflated, tiered and illuminated white “skirt”…. a bit like Bride of the Michelin Man!....as well as a giant jellyfish and a woman riding a fork lift, dressed as Glenda the Good Witch who I think was supposed to represent the
North Star.
All of these characters were there to escort the kings along their route.
Almeria’s procession started at La Alcazaba, the 10th century castle that sits high above the city, and on to the cathedral (from the 16th century, which is now the seat of the Episcopal Church) for a welcoming; it continued to wind its way through three of the city’s main streets before ending at the top of la rambla by 10 or 11pm. Since the next day is a national holiday and because Spaniards maintain late evenings, the streets were filled with happy people and smiling children (I’m serious, we saw no temper tantrums and heard no cross words). It was really a good time.
The best part, you ask?......Besides being fortunate enough to snatch a couple of pieces of candy, we hit the tapas bars right after the event and just before heading home, I had my first churros y chocolat.
I LOVE SPAIN!
(Sorry about the quality of the photos, it was dark after all. Be sure to expand them for a better view)
I have never seen the man in the light up white skirt before, some guys have all the luck
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