The most magical night of the year arrives this Sunday with the parades of the Three Wise Men, which this year, especially Andalusian and Galician, due to the forecast of rain for this day the 5th. Each procession of Their Majesties of the East will be different. In Malaga, for example, the person in charge of representing Baltasar will be , the young man from Guinea-Conakry who during the floods that the city suffered in mid-November due to the dana. In Zaragoza, the violinist has composed the soundtrack for the procession and, in Alicante, Gaspar, Melchor and Baltasar will greet the children from the ring of the bullring. These are some of the details of the shows that the main cities will host.
Madrid
The parade will end in the Plaza de Cibeles. Stands will be set up on both sides of the parade, from Emilio Castelar to Colón, which will be free access until capacity is reached and their doors will open at 4:00 p.m. Five marked and reserved points have been planned “for people with disabilities, especially people in wheelchairs and with reduced mobility who cannot access the rest of the seats in the stands.” The Three Wise Men will be accompanied by different shows, from angels that fly, others that skate, giant frogs, marine animals, or African toys. A company from the Italian town of Florence called Sbandieratori will amaze with their juggling performed with flags.
Barcelona
The Three Wise Men from Marquès de l’Argentera Avenue to the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. The arrival by sea of Their Majesties is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. and is expected to end around 9:00 p.m. on Avenida de la Reina María Cristina. Those who wish can go to Somorrostro beach beforehand, between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m., to watch the traditional schooner of the Three Wise Men, named Santa Eulalia. Once they touch land, they will be received by the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Later, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar will walk along Paseo de Colón to Paral·lel Avenue between 6:15 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. From there they will head along the Ronda de Sant Pau to Sepúlveda Street around 8:30 p.m., where they will turn to Plaza de España to culminate the parade under the iconic Font Màgica de Montjuïc.
Valencia
Some 200 musicians, 150 dancers and 200 pages will accompany Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar on Sunday. There will be more than 1,200 people who will participate in the delegation, in which the presence of companies and groups from the areas affected by the damage will stand out, such as the Music Band of the Santa Cecilia Musical Union of Castellar-l’Oliveral and the the La Torre Musical Association. The Kings will arrive by boat at the Marina port of Valencia at 4:30 p.m.
Many children come to the port area every year to be the first to welcome them and accompany them to the starting point of the parade, the Exhibition Palace at 5:30 p.m. The horse-mounted police and fire vehicles will make way for the floats through the Flores Bridge and the streets of Navarro Reverter, Porta de la Mar, General Palanca, General Tovar, La Paz, Plaza de la Reina, San Vicente Mártir and the Town Hall square. There, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar will stop at a nativity scene to worship the Child. Afterwards they will greet from the balcony of the Town Hall and then settle in the glass room and receive the children.
Zaragoza
Your Majesties. The City Council has renovated floats and even designed costumes and composed music expressly for this parade that, they say, will be “the most dazzling in the history of the city.” Ara Malikian has been in charge of composing the soundtrack to make the parade “an immersive experience.” About 300 people will accompany Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, who will arrive at a place not yet revealed to tour the center under the motto Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They will start at 6:00 p.m. and will do their usual route (CEI Joaquín Costa, Paseo de María Agustín, Puerta del Carmen, Paseo de Pamplona, Plaza del Paraíso, Paseo de la Constitución, Paseo La Mina, Plaza de San Miguel, Coso, Plaza de España , Calle de Alfonso and Plaza del Pilar), all with iconography inspired by the adorations of the Kings painted by masters such as Rubens, Velázquez and El Greco. Literary works by Rubén Darío or Michel Tournier have also served as inspiration. They will be accompanied by artisans, blacksmiths, musicians, 27 children’s pages, animals and, of course, the body of scribes who will be in charge of collecting all the last-minute letters. In the Plaza del Pilar, they will enter the Bethlehem to worship the child and will go up to the balcony of the Town Hall to address the children.
Málaga
It was one of the most viral images of the damage that Malaga suffered in mid-November. A woman paralyzed by the flood and a young man who does not hesitate to rescue her. His name is Mansour Konte, he is from Guinea-Conakry and, following that rescue, on the ride.
He will be one of the protagonists who, along with the rest of the caravan of floats, . The tour will take you along Cervantes Avenue, General Torrijos Square, Paseo del Parque, Plaza de la Marina, Alameda Principal, Tetuán Bridge, Nazareno del Paso, Hilera, Puente de la Esperanza, Prim, Atarazanas, Puerta del Mar, Alameda Principal, Plaza de la Marina and Cortina del Muelle. At this point, the Kings and their entourages will parade on foot along Molina Lario Street to reach the Plaza del Obispo and make the offering to the baby Jesus on the steps of the main door of the Cathedral. The Association of Brotherhoods of Malaga has put chairs on sale in Paseo del Parque, Alameda and Plaza de la Marina at a price between 8 and 15 euros.
Murcia
The cavalcade will cross the center on its traditional route, crossing the Segura River through the Old Bridge and along the Gran Vía to end at the large Christmas tree installed in the Circular plaza. Numerous dance groups will accompany the floats, which will distribute candy and toys to the children. Along the route, 20,000 chairs have been installed, 6,000 more than last year, whose rental (for seven euros) is managed by the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities. Users of the entity will act as ushers and the benefits will revert directly to this association. At the end of the parade, installed in the patio of the Episcopal Palace, in the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga, where a concert will be held by the Orfeón Fernández Caballero.
Palma
The Magosa Kings aboard the ship Rafael Verderawhere they will be given the key to the city. Accompanied by a procession of 17 floats, 325 participants and a shower of 2,000 kilos of sugar-free and gluten-free candies, they will tour the center until they reach the balcony of the Town Hall, in Plaza de Cort. The artistic director of the xabalgata, Dani Puig, highlighted this week that the main novelties are the incorporation of a float dedicated to classic gifts, with cars, small planes, spinning tops, stuffed animals and rag dolls, as well as decorations inspired by traditional tales. as Little Red Riding Hood, The Pied Piper of Hamelin y Goldilocks. On Friday, Their Majesties already visited the Town Hall to collect the letters with the wishes of the little ones.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
As is usual, your arrival in the Canary Islands capital will be by sea. This Sunday at 12:00, the mayor, Carolina Darias, will receive Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar at the Naval Base, where she will give them the key to the city. The parade, which will take place with clear skies, will travel through the city from north to south along León y Castillo street. Throughout the journey, music will encourage attendees, except for two sections in which hospital areas are crossed and where children sensitive to noise may be located. This year, it will have surprises. Some 400 dancers and extras will accompany the floats, inspired by different worlds, from Disney, with films such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, snow white o The Lion Kingto the universe of Star Warsas well as acrobats, little soldiers, skaters and dance groups. Starting at 8:00 p.m., one of the most important events will begin: Three Kings Night in the commercial area of Triana. The municipal corporation has opted to maintain this celebration with up to seven concerts, despite the fact that a neighborhood complaint about noise weighs on its future, which is already being processed in court.
Alicante
The Kings will arrive at the port of Alicante, specifically at the Levante pier, where a children’s show will be performed before greeting the children from the ring. At 6:00 p.m. there will be the reception for the Magi of the East in the arena, where they will address a few words to the children. At 7:00 p.m. the parade will start from Avenida de la Estación and will end around 9:30 p.m. with a greeting from the magicians from a stage located in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The procession will distribute 5,000 kilos of soft, gluten-free candies and 2,000 toys. The show that will accompany the part dedicated to the biblical scenes will come with three dance groups and will be opened by an inflatable star. There are 23 floats planned and more than a thousand participants. The council has arranged about 6,000 chairs, which are rented, to watch the parade.
Bilbao
Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar. They will do so by crossing the portal of the Nervión estuary, the Bizkaia Bridge, and disembarking at the Portugalete dock at 12:45. Already in Bilbao, after a visit to the girls and boys admitted to the hospital and an institutional reception, they will prepare for the parade through the streets of the capital of Biscay. The parade is made up of 10 floats and four street performances, all set in a trip around the world with characters from movies like Moana, Lilo and Stitch, Madagascar o Ice Age.
The Royal Mail Department will also be present to collect the letters. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. from Gran Vía with María Díaz de Haro Street, and will run to the City Hall. There, minutes before 8:00 p.m., the Kings will go out to the balcony to offer their message to the most txikis of the houses. Fortunately, Olentzero already took away some of their work a few days ago and they will also be able to carry several umbrellas. In Bilbao, precipitation is expected in the afternoon.
Vigo
The forecasts of heavy rain have forced the City Council to design a covered static parade. Families will be able to visit the floats and the Three Wise Men on Sunday at the Ifevi fairgrounds from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. the mayor, Abel Caballero, will give the key to the city to Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar. Their Majesties’ agenda in Vigo, however, will begin in the morning, as they will visit the children who are admitted to hospitals and care centers.
With information from David Exposito, Sergi Llanas, Cristina Vazquez, Javier Martín-Arroyo, Eva Pérez Smiles, Nacho Sanchez, Virginia Vadillo, Guillermo Vega, Gonzalo Loza y Sonia Vizoso.
