The Three Kings (a.k.a. the Three Wise Men) are often described as a group of religious astrologists who visited the baby Jesus soon after his birth, bearing the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The event is commemorated in Western Christianity by the celebration of Epiphany on 6th January, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas. In Spain, the three kings receive wish lists from children and, if they have been good, they will receive a visit from them on the night before Epiphany laden with sacks of goodies.

In the days before the arrival of the Three Kings, look out for the pages who arrive to collect the wish lists of excited children in the old town and the port. In Spain, most children will have received a token present from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. It is not until Epiphany that the Three Kings will being their special gifts. And, of course, adults will exchange gifts as well!

On the day itself, the Three Kings, together with their pages, arrive in the port of Xàbia by fishing trawler to be greeted by local dignitaries and the municipal band. It seems a bit of disorganised at first; the crowds line the quayside alongside the colourful pages, bands and even animals. Almost at a whim, the procession begins and excited kids line the route, armed with plastic bags to collect the sweets thrown in all directions by the pages; parents stand back to let them enjoy the occasions but ready with the word of caution or a protective arm when the kids get over-excited under a shower of boiled sweets.

Hundreds will have already gathered in the Avda. Rey Jaime I in front of a specially-constructed stage as the procession weaves its way around the port. When they arrive, the Kings step up onto the stage, announce themselves to the gathered masses (with accompanying noise and light from fireworks and firecrackers), and then patiently greet each excited child as they are led onto the stage to collect a modest toy. Most children have their favourite - Melchior, Gaspar or Balthasar - and will fight almost tooth and nail to collect their gift from him. If you want your own children to collect a gift, our advice is to get to the stage early and get into the queue which will very quickly snake up the road; some families even miss out on the parade to get an early spot in the line.

Night falls and the pages and bands gather together to continue the procession up to the old town, a long uphill procession that should test everyone's stamina. Another special stage will have been erected, usually in the Placeta del Convent (often known as the "old man's roundabout"), and the crowds will quickly gather. As the live nativity gets into place - local youngsters playing the roles of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus and accompanied by angels - the Kings are welcomed onto the stage by a local dignitary, usually the mayor, and the kid's excitement will not be eased by several speeches - the Spanish love speeches - as more fireworks light up the night sky.

That evening, it has always been tradition that the kids polish their shoes and fill them with straw, or carrots before they go to bed,, ready for the presents that the "real" Kings will bring overnight. Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are sometimes left for the Kings and their camels. It has also been tradition for children to prepare a empty box lined with hay or dry grass which they place under their beds,essentially the manger in which the baby Jesus would lay. On the morning of January 6th, the kids wake to find three presents in the box, symbolic of the three gifts that were given to the baby Jesus by the Three Kings. Sadly, such traditions are beginning to be swamped by the onset of commercialism and Santa Claus.

The Roscón del Reyes is the traditional cake pastry eaten to celebrate Epiphany; look out for them in supermarkets in the days leading up to the celebrations if you don't fancy baking your own. It has long been tradition that a small trinket is baked inside the cake, often a figurine of the baby Jesus, and whoever finds it is said to be blessed; they should also take the figurine to the nearest church at Candlemas (February 2nd - Día de la Candelaria). A similar tradition has a dry faba bean inside the cake; whoever finds the trinket is crowned as the "king" or "queen" of the feast whilst the unlucky person who finds the bean has to pay for next year's cake!

Updated: Saturday 10th December 2011