I, being the ignorant, Hollywood-centric person that I am, would hear about a celebration of the Three Kings and try to figure out why we were celebrating George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube. I mean, it was a fine movie and all. Plus, it was the origin of the great David O. Russel/Mark Wahlberg collaboration that also brought us I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter. I’d understand a celebration for the latter two more.

No. Reyes Magos celebrates the Three Kings visiting the newborn Jesus and is one of the oldest traditions in Spain. For more than 200 years, Reyes Magos has been celebrated with Cabalgato de los Reyes Magos, a grand parade. It is a time for both religious and familial celebrations.

It is said that the Three Kings wander, looking for shoes left out in plain site. Instead of milk and cookies, children leave out sweets for the kings and hay for their camels. When they arise on January 6, the children are greeted with presents left next to the shoes.

It may not make as good of a movie as the Clooney/Wahlberg/Ice Cube vehicle, but it does sound like a good time. I can get behind any celebration or holiday that involves presents. A trip to Spain isn’t sounding so bad right now…

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