Kings Day or Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 and is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the day when the newborn Jesus Christ received the visit of magicians. The three wise men visited Baby Jesus on the night of the 5th to the 6th of January, after being guided by a star. The Magi Kings, named Belchior, Baltazar and Gaspar, offered the Baby Jesus gold, incense and myrrh. 

The tradition emerged in the 8th century and marks the day of veneration of the Magi, converting them into saints, Belchior, Gaspar and Baltazar. The 6th of January celebrates the end of the Christmas season, and it is tradition to dismantle the nativity scenes and remove the Christmas ornaments.

Traditions

In Portugal, the traditional bolo-rei is part of the celebration of Kings. On this day it is also tradition to sing the Janeiras.

In France, the famous Galette des Rois is bought or prepared.

In Italy the best known tradition on Epiphany is the “Befana”. Here, in place of Santa Claus, an elderly lady takes her place distributing gifts to children.

The “Rosca de Reyes”, similar to king cake, is the cake eaten on Epiphany in Spain. It is on Dia de Reis that the Spaniards have the tradition of exchanging gifts. One of the traditional Kings Day celebrations in Spain is the Cavalcade of the Wise Men, which symbolize the path of the Wise Men after the birth of Jesus.