Three Kings Parade

Three Kings Day is just as important as Christmas day in Spain!  Everything, including school is closed.  The night before Three Kings Day there is a parade where the Three Kings lead a procession through the streets throwing candy and treats to the  kids.  The kids in Spain get their presents on Three Kings Day the next morning!

We went to the parade in downtown El Puerto de Santa Maria, about a 5 minute drive from where we live.  We were told before hand to be careful because the candy actually gets pelted at you.  Which turns out is true!  I never thought that I would tell my kids during a parade to cover their head and close their eyes so it wouldn't hurt as much if they got pelted with a piece of hard candy.  The parade consists of a bunch of floats (some Disney related), a live Nativity scene (with lives animals and all) and then the Three Kings.  There are kids on all of the floats pelting hard candy at the viewers...and lots of it.  Once the candy is thrown everyone runs to grab as much as they can.  We didn't come prepared with bags like the locals but it didn't matter, the empty stroller caught enough candy to last awhile...I had to hold Lily to shield her from the candy! Here are a few pictures from the parade.