King's Day

Today is King's Day in Spain. It is the third and last in the winter Holiday season here (Christmas, New year, and King's day). Last night the my sister Rebecca (who is visiting for her winter break) and I took Isa and Abi to watch the King's day parade (Lori was working at the cafe). The Kings throw handfuls of candy into the crowds of people and last night little kids across Spain went to sleep dreaming about toys that the Kings were going to bring. This is the Spanish way to celebrate epiphany, when the kings (or wise men) visited Jesus and gave him extravagant gifts. Some families in Spain give gifts on Christmas and not on King's day, some on King's day and not on Christmas, and a lot give gifts on both to start and end the holiday season with giving. Today everything in town is closed (except for maybe one pharmacy that never shuts down). We are going to celebrate over a meal with some Spanish friends of ours. And then next week, life returns to normal as the holidays fall behind us. Happy King's Day!