Who brings gifts to children in Spain? The three Wise Men, Santa Claus and other magical Spanish characters. We start January with enthusiasm! The beginning of the first month of the year is very exciting for Spaniards. Do you know why? Because the Three Wise Men come to bring gifts to the
We start January with enthusiasm! The beginning of the first month of the year is very exciting for Spaniards. Do you know why?
because they come the Three Wise Men to bring gifts to the children. 🎁👶
In this article we are going to delve into the tradition of the Three Wise Men and other characters who bring gifts to children in Spain, like Santa Claus, the Ratoncito Pérez, the Olentzero and many more.
I hope you have written your letter to the Three Wise Men in perfect Spanish. 😁
Let's start!
We start with the three wise men, the most famous and beloved magical characters in Spain.
Would you be interested in knowing what the origin of the Three Wise Men?
Its first appearance is in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. In it, it is said that some magicians were sent to Bethlehem guided by a star worship the baby Jesus who had just been born and brought him gifts.
It is curious because, in reality, the Gospel does not literally say that there were three Kings.
This number was adopted in relation to the Holy Trinity and the number of gifts they brought to the baby, which was three.
Do you know what these gifts from the Three Wise Men were? Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
What is the myrrh of the Three Wise Men?
Myrrh is like little stones that give off a very pleasant aroma, just like incense. Both are said to have very good health properties.
Do they seem like good gifts to you? Maybe nowadays it would be a little strange to give that to a child. 😄
Another interesting fact about the origin of the Three Wise Men is that the term "magi" in the Gospel of Saint Matthew referred to the astrologers.
It was not the image of wizards that we have today as in fairy tales or harry potter. 🧙♂️
The Three Wise Men were actually astrologers, so they knew how to guide themselves with the stars. How interesting! TRUE?
During the Middle Ages, the legend of the Three Wise Men was taking a new form, providing the names, mythology, symbols and appearance that we grant them to this day.
Currently, the 3 Wise Men They are the Christmas characters most loved by Spanish children. They are the ones who bring the main gifts.
How do the Kings know what gifts each boy and girl wants? That's what the letters to the Three Wise Men.
In December, before Christmas begins, children write their letters.
On these letters, children must write the date, their names and the list of things to ask the Three Wise Men.
And, very important! They must express that this year they have behaved well, since if not, they will not receive their desired gifts. 😇
The way that exists to send letters to the Kings is through the Three Kings mailbox. Every year, the Post Office installs special mailboxes throughout the country that send letters to the Three Wise Men.
If your children have written the letter to the Kings, look for these mailboxes. They can also be sent virtually. Although in physical format it has more charm, don't you think? 🪄
What are the most typical gifts to ask for the Three Wise Men?
Normally, Spanish children ask toys.
On January 6 is When do the Three Wise Men bring gifts?. This is the most exciting day of the entire year for Spanish children.
It is called the Three Kings Day. The Kings leave the gifts on the Christmas tree of each house and leave.
What day do the Three Wise Men come?? They arrive in Spain January 5, one day before giving the gifts.
Do you know how they come? On their camels, of course.
On the night of January 5, the children provide food and water for these animals, as a sign of gratitude. 🐫
In addition to the camels of the Three Wise Men, other symbolic elements of these are their layers of colors and crowns.
If you see photographs of the Three Wise Men, you will surely recognize them.
I haven't introduced them yet! What a mistake on my part.
The names of the Three Wise Men are Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar.
And,where are they from the wise men?
At first their nationality was not exactly mentioned, it was simply said that they were "The Three Wise Men of the East.»
However, in a Apocryphal Gospel of the 5th century it was pointed out that Melchior was from Persia, Gaspar from India and Baltasar from Arabia..
As we have said before, the day January 5 of each year the Kings arrive in Spain from the East. Maybe you are wondering:
«What traditions are there that day in Spain?»
""Where the Three Wise Men are celebrated exactly?"
The main event on January 5 is the parade of the Three Wise Men.
A ride is a parade made up of people and floats that move through the streets.
The Three Kings Parade It is done in all the provinces of Spain. In it, The Kings, their pages and other characters walk through the main streets.
The families stand in front of the floats to greet the Kings and their pages and to collect the candies that they throw at them.
It is a very fun event, especially when people throw themselves on the ground to get the candy.
Sometimes it is the parents, rather than the children, who want to grab candy the most. 🤣
Three Kings Day is a much-loved celebration in Spain. But we are not the only country that receives them.
In Europe; Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Austria also celebrate them.
What's more, it is said that the bodies of the original Three Wise Men are buried in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
In latin america The Kings go to Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Paraguay and Cuba.
These countries have the tradition of Kings for spanish influencethat they received in the past.
The same thing happens in Asia with Philippines, a country that also celebrates the Three Wise Men.
Of all these countries, Spain is surely the country that most venerates the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
So, if you are here at Christmas, you can't miss this moment! 😊
We continue with the next great character that brings Christmas gifts in Spain: Santa Claus. 🎅
In case you don't know, Santa Claus is Santa Claus: that nice chubby, bearded man, dressed in red and white, who brings gifts to the children on his sleigh.
It is said that Santa Claus lives in the city of Rovaniemi, Finland, very close to the Arctic Circle. He lives there with his assistants.
Who helps Santa Claus? The nice ones elves If it weren't for them, Santa Claus with the gifts alone couldn't do all the work.
Although it may be interesting to clarify, that This version of Santa Claus has been around since the 19th century.
The real Santa Claus is inspired by Saint Nicholas, a greek bishop who lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries.
It is said that this bishop He was neither fat, nor kind, nor did he wear red clothes, nor did he live in the arctic, nor did he fly around the cities on flying reindeer. 😝
So why did the character of Santa Claus derive from Saint Nicholas?
Because this was called the children pattern due to two important events in his life in which he saved several children from death and other evils.
As with the Three Wise Men, Spanish children write a similar letter and send it in a mailbox for Santa Claus.
In the letter, they also say that they have been good and ask them for the gifts they want.
In Spain, Santa Claus is not as popular as the Three Wise Men, not all children write the letter.
Although there are some lucky ones who receive the gifts of Santa Claus and also of the Kings. 😁
In the christmas eve of each year, the day December 24, is when the Santa Claus gifts.
Children should leave the sock open near the Christmas tree so that Santa Claus can put his gifts there. You can also leave some food and water for Santa's reindeer.
In case you're curious, I'm going to tell you the reindeer names of Santa Claus in Spanish.
The Santa's sleigh is transported by nine reindeer magical
These are called: Thunder, Lightning, Playful, Cupid, Comet, Jolly, Dancer, Jumper and Rudolph.
What beautiful names! Just by name you can get an idea of the personality of each reindeer.
Did you know that the appearance of these reindeer first arose in a 1823 poem?
This poem was written by the American Clement C. Moore and it was called A visit from Saint Nicholas.
In it, Santa Claus was presented for the first time as we know him today: coming from the Arctic pole, with the red dress, the reindeer and the sleigh loaded with gifts.
Apart from the Three Wise Men and Santa Claus, in Spain we have other magical characters who bring gifts.
Do you want to meet them? Let's go there!
The origin of this friendly character comes from story written in France in the 18th century: La Bonne Petite Souris (The good mouse).
The legend of Tooth Fairy has spread by others European countries and from Latin America.
The Tooth Fairy is the only character in this article who does not bring gifts at Christmas, but rather when the children lose a tooth.
In Spain, the original story had its adaptation in 1894 by the writer Luis Coloma.
In the fairy tale, this character took children's teeth that were falling out and in exchange he left them a small gift: candy or money.
And what does the Tooth Fairy do with his teeth?
Well, it turns out that the Tooth Fairy is a mouse dentist, and so that the oldest mice can eat the delicious Christmas candy, he gives them these milk teeth that children drop.
Therefore, when children lose a baby tooth, they do the following:
And Tachan! The tooth is gone. The Tooth Fairy has taken it. 😁
He's an endearing character, isn't he? 😍🐁
Well, the best of all is that I am going to tell you the home where the Ratoncito Pérez lives in Spain, so that you can visit it and take a photo of it.
The Little Mouse's House is in Madrid. At the entrance to the Bank of Spain metro station, you will see a small door with bars.
There is his house, I don't think you can go in because it is tiny, but at least you can see it. 😉
Another curiosity! Did you know that we have a Perez Mouse Museum in Valencia very interesting?
It is called the Old Tooth Warehouse, and in it the stories of the famous little mouse are told with puppet shows.
If you have small children and you are in Valencia, you already have a plan to spend the afternoon!
In Cantabria they also have their own Cantabrian Santa Claus. It is called the Esteru.
Characterized as a lord calm and good-natured, is a lumberjack that make toys with wood to give to children on Three Kings Day.
He is always accompanied by his donkey the Burru and has its own horseback riding since the late nineties.
This endearing lumberjack always wears a beret, one pipe and one lush beard.
Another magical character who brings gifts in Spain is the Apalpador of Galicia.
Who is the Appalator?
It is a Galician chickadee that between December 24 and 31 of each year goes to Galician cities and towns tocheck if the boys and girls eat well.
How do you check it? He does this by touching their bellies.
Hence the term "palpalador", which comes from the verb palpate and it means touching a thing or a person to examine it, as doctors do.
If children are good eaters, the Apalpador gives them chestnuts and other gifts.
What do you think of the character of Apalpador and his legend?
I find it very funny. 😁
Who is the Olentzero? Well, it's something like the Basque Santa Claus, and also Navarrese.
The legend of the Olentzero began to spread from the 70s.
His appearance is different from the traditional Santa Claus. He dresses like a typical Basque peasant, and also has a beard, although brown.
Where does Olentzero live?
Live in the mountains, in the town of Izenaduba basoa, within Vizcaya.
Works making charcoal, and he loves it eat and drink, hence his big belly. In this he does look like Santa Claus. 😁
From the 90s, to Olentzero another was added magical character who brought gifts to the children: Mari Domingi.
Mari Domingi comes from a popular christmas song collected by Resurrección María de Azkue at the beginning of the 20th century.
She is a witch and shepherdess of the earth, good knowledge of the path of the sun, the different lunar stages and the use of medicinal plants.
Her favorite gifts are handmade, made with natural elements such as stones, flowers, wood or wool.
The Olentzero andMari Domingi They are neighbors and together They are in charge of bringing the gifts to all the boys and girls of the Basque Country and Navarre in the christmas day, on December 25.
In the northern Spain there is a long fishing tradition, given that its regions are located on the seashore.
The seafood and fish They are a very important part of gastronomy in the northern Spain.
to render tribute to fishermen, in the autonomous community of Asturias, we have the Asturian Santa Claus: The Angler of Asturias.
The Angulero is an elver fisherman. He is dressed in traditional yellow fisherman raincoat, with wellies and a wool hat.
On Christmas Eve, all Asturian children want to receive gifts from the Angulero.
To do this, they have to leave a wool hat with food and drink under the Christmas tree as a gift for the Angler.
We arrive at last character and to what is, in my opinion, the most curious legend of all.
This character is from Catalonia. ¿Nadal's uncle Is he then the Catalan Santa Claus?
Not quite. Nadal's uncle It is built with a piece of trunk and some long wood that serves as legs.
A smiling face is drawn on the trunk. They cover him with a blanket and the children give him food from the beginning of Advent until Christmas Eve.
December 24th comes the day when Tió de Nadal gives his gifts. As? This is the part that fascinates me the most.
The children beat him with canes while singing a song that they ask him to do. nougat poop.
Yes, you heard right. Nadal's uncle shits nougat. 💩🍫
Don't take it too seriously, it's just a way of speaking. 😂
After finishing the song, under the blanket from Tió de Nadal there is no poop, only nougats or other gifts.
Did you like this legend? And the others?
As you see, in Spain we have a long mythology around the magical characters of Christmas.
The Three Wise Men and Santa Claus are the most famous and are celebrated throughout the country.
However, we must not forget the others local charactersThey are part of our culture and make Spain an even richer and more charming country.
Do you want learn spanish and learn more about our traditions?
I encourage you to come to Valencia to our face-to-face Spanish courses in Hispania, Spanish school.
Here you will learn Spanish with very professional teachers and many classmates from all over the world.
If you are interested in History and Spanish legends, we also have many cultural activities and tours with a specialized guide through Valencia in which you will learn about these topics.
Do you prefer learn spanish remotely from your house?
You can also do it with our online Spanish courses. 😉
And now, tell me: Who brings Christmas gifts in your country? Are there as many characters as in Spain?
Tell me in Comments. 😊
See you soon!
Article written by Charles Martinez forHispania, Spanish school
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