Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, is a significant holiday in Spain celebrated on the 6th of January. The holiday is associated with the biblical tale where three wise men — or magi — follow a bright star to visit the baby Jesus, offering gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. The holiday marks the end of the Christmas celebration and also the day when children receive gifts in Spain, known as Reyes Magos.
Spanish traditions for Epiphany involve parades or processions, known as the Cabalgata de Reyes. The night before Epiphany, the 5th of January, towns and cities throughout Spain participate in this parade. Three individuals are chosen to dress up as the three kings and they throw sweets and small presents to spectators, specifically targeting children. Many of these parades can be lavish affairs involving floats, music, and plenty of excitement.
On the day of the Epiphany, Spanish children wake up to find that the Three Kings have left gifts for them. Often, sweets or small toys will be placed in shoes the children have left out for this purpose. A special cake, known as Roscón de Reyes or King's Ring, is typically consumed on this day after a meal. The cake is round in shape to symbolize a crown, often decorated with candied fruit to imitate jewels, and sometimes a small figure or a bean is hidden inside this cake. The person who finds this in their slice will have good luck for the year to come.