Events · 5–6 January
Three Kings in Frigiliana.
Spanish Epiphany — Día de Reyes. Three Kings on horseback parade through the village on the evening of 5th January, throwing sweets to children. The next morning, families exchange gifts. Spain’s real Christmas.
What is Reyes Magos?
Reyes Magos — Three Kings — is the Spanish celebration of Epiphany, marking the arrival of the three wise men with gifts for the infant Jesus. It falls on 6th January and is, in much of Spain, a more significant family event than Christmas Day itself.
The night of 5th January is the magical part — the kings parade through every Spanish town and village, and that night, children leave shoes out for the kings to fill with presents. The next morning, families wake up to gifts and gather for a long festive lunch.
5th January evening
The Frigiliana Three Kings parade.
The kings arrive
The three kings — Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar — arrive in the village by horse or float, often around 6pm. Each accompanied by attendants and pages in costume.
The procession
The kings parade through the old town and the newer village, accompanied by music. Local children dressed as shepherds and angels often join the procession.
Sweets thrown to children
From the floats, the kings and their attendants throw boiled sweets and small gifts to children lining the streets. Bring a bag if you’re with kids — they’ll fill it.
Final gathering at the church
The procession ends at the village church, where the kings often pay respects. Families then head home to put presents out for the morning.
6th January: the gift-giving day
The morning of the 6th — Día de los Reyes Magos — is when Spanish families exchange gifts. Children find presents beside the shoes they left out the night before. It’s the equivalent of Christmas morning in northern-European traditions, and the day is a national holiday across Spain.
The day continues with a long family lunch, often featuring the traditional Roscón de Reyes — a ring-shaped sweet bread topped with candied fruit, with a small figurine and a dried bean baked inside. Whoever finds the figurine wears a paper crown for the day; whoever finds the bean buys next year’s roscón.
When is it in 2027?
The dates are fixed:
- 5th January (evening): Three Kings procession through Frigiliana
- 6th January: National holiday, family gift-giving, long lunch
The procession typically starts around 6pm in Frigiliana — exact time and route are confirmed by the town hall a couple of weeks ahead. Check our main events calendar closer to the time.
Going as a visitor
- Especially good with kids. The Frigiliana parade is small enough that families can get close, and the sweets-throwing is genuinely magical for younger children.
- Dress for cold. 5th January evening is winter — bring a proper coat, gloves, hat. Frigiliana sits at 300m and gets cold after dark in early January.
- The 6th is a public holiday. Most shops, banks, and offices closed. Restaurants generally open, especially for lunch. Plan accordingly.
- Try a roscón. Local bakeries make their own — pre-order if you want a particularly fancy one. The morning of the 6th, every family in Spain is eating one.
- It’s a quiet time to visit otherwise. Early January is one of the quietest weeks of the year in Frigiliana, with rates correspondingly low.
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