The feast of Epiphany celebrated in Spain

Thousands of children line the streets of Madrid to receive sweets and presents thrown to them from floats by actors dressed as the Three Wise Men during the traditional Epiphany parade

Thousands of children lined the streets of the Spanish capital on Monday night to see the Three Kings or Magi parade down the streets bearing gifts in an annual tradition.

The colourful parade is organised to honour the "Magi from the east" – Melchor, Gaspar and Balthasar – who are mentioned in the gospel of Saint Matthew as following a star to Bethlehem to give gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newly born Jesus Christ.

Their arrival is celebrated by Christians on January 6, called Epiphany.

People dressed as fantasy figures on the floats hurled sweets down to the children, who cheered the ornately decorated floats.
The floats were accompanied by clowns, jugglers and marching bands.

Despite the influence of Father Christmas in a Catholic but increasing secular Spain, the tradition of receiving presents on the 6th of January continues.

Children across the country put out shoes hoping for sweets but – if they had been behaving badly – the shoes could be filled with coal.

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