It's called the "Cabalgada de Los Reyes" (The Cavalcade
— or Parade — of the Kings") and it happens in cities all over Spain every year on 5 January, the Eve of Three King's Day. The participants throw candies to the spectators.
Sevilla had a huge parade with huge floats and horses (also huge) and huge bands and huge amounts of candy.
(Click here to see last year's parade in Sevilla.)
Fuengirola is a much smaller town than Sevilla (about 1/10th the size), but the cabalgada was still fun. No live horses, only two or three bands, but very well done and a very happy place to be. Oddly, every float was based on Disney characters. But then I've been told Disneyland is "The Happiest Place on Earth."
Like New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, where Santa Claus is rolled out, these Spanish parades welcome the Three Kings to town before they make
their night-time rounds to deliver gifts.
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| THE START OF THE "CABALGADA." |
I met Elena, daughter Paula (11), and Elena's sister Ana, in front of Meson Salvador to see the parade as it began and headed off through the streets of Los Boliches into the center of Fuengirola. Tynan stayed home with son, Alexander, who had homework to do. San Geraldo stayed home, too. Party pooper. But, he and Tynan met us afterward for drinks.
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GRUÑÓN (GRUMPY), AKA SAN GERALDO, FOLLOWED BY ME...
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M FELIZ (HAPPY) OR TONTÍN (DOPEY). HI HO... |
Paula had a plastic bag to collect her candies. She and Ana did most of the work. Paula's mid-air one-handed catches were astounding. I just let the candies bounce off my head into her waiting hands.
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THIS GIRL BROUGHT AN UMBRELLA TO DO THE WORK
(BUT MOST CANDIES BOUNCED BACK OUT). |
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| IT WAS ALL A BIT GOOFY. |
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| DUMBO. |
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| PROBABLY ALREADY BETTER CHEFS THAN YOURS TRULY. |
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| GREAT MAKE-UP. |
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| I HAVE NO IDEA... |
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| KING MELCHOR. |
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| MINI MINNIES. |
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JUST AS A CANDY BOUNCED HARD OFF MY GLASSES.
(THE MAD HATTER HAD A MAD THROW.) |
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| CINDERELLAS. |
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| PAULA. |
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| LEADING THE KING... |
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| KING GASPAR. |
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| THE PRINCESSES LEIA. |
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| SEE THE TARZAN YELL BELOW... |
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KING BALTASAR. APPARENTLY, THE MOST POPULAR KING.
(AND HE HAD THE BEST CANDY.) |
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| GRABBING MORE BAGS OF CANDY FOR THE "FLOATERS" TO HURL. |
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PAULA AND TIA ANA INSPECTING THE CATCH OF THE DAY.
(PAULA PROBABLY SLEPT WITH THE BAG UNDER HER PILLOW.) |
Wow! I don't really get why all of the cartoon characters are part of this, but a cabalgada is a cabalgada, after all, so who am I to judge?
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteApparently, they chose the Disney theme a while back for the kids. It seemed odd to me at first, but the kids (and adults) loved it.
Exciting to see! A hard hat would probably help here! Well, did the 3 Kings deliver at your place last night?
ReplyDeleteJim:
DeleteThe Three Kings delivered as I was leaving the house for the parade. A bottle of wine among other things! So much better than candy.
Love these kinds of things! For years I went to the family-friendly Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. I came home with enough beads and stuff to keep my young nieces ecstatic for months.
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteI've never been to Mardi Gras. A friend of mine went and "earned" beads for me. I was honored. She was zaftig and earned a lot of beads.
Were those Disney characters inflatable? Looks like they pretty much had everyone covered..... even some characters that I didn't recognize. That's Okay... a parade if always fun.
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteThe floats were all fiberglass. I didn't know some of the characters either.
The Disney connection seems a bit odd, but it does look extremely festive.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI suppose we can think"Eurodisney." (Love the new photo, by the way!)
The Spanish seem to do these small parades with great enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteHere, most things are done with quite great enthusiasm.
I think this is wonderful! I am slightly envious of all these colorful parades and happy people in the neighborhood streets.....May it always continue!
ReplyDeleteKristi:
DeleteI agree...May it always continue!
I was never fast enough to catch any candy thrown from parade floats. And, I really like candy!
ReplyDeleteMs. Sparrow:
DeleteThey throw so much at these parades that you can easily pick up bagfuls from the ground. But, we all should Paula catching for us. She was something else!
They sure know how to have a good time in Spain, don't they? What fun! But hey, no snow! ;)
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteI can see snow on the mountains ... in the distance ... where I'm very glad it stays. Right now seaside, it's a chilly 12C/54F. I'm wearing a sweatshirt.
Safe travels Mitchell! Love you!
ReplyDelete