The wonderful thing about Christmas in Spain is that it doesn’t end the day after Boxing Day. Unlike many countries in Europe the main day of celebration in the Spanish Christmas calendar falls on 6th January, the day that the Three Kings purportedly followed a star to the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

Three Kings Day, or Dia de Los Reyes in Spanish, is the day of present giving for children in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries around the world. Traditionally on the eve of Kings Day children leave their shoes by the front door in anticipation that the kings, also known as wise men or magi, will visit and leave gifts in the shoes for them to find the following morning.

Therefore throughout Spain on Kings Day eve every town organises a fun filled programme of Three Kings celebrations for the whole family to enjoy, and Marbella is no exception. Normally children and their parents living in the area can choose from one of three parades to watch that take place in Marbella or neighbouring San Pedro Alcántara and Nueva Andalucía. These colourful processions represent the pilgrimage the wise men made to Bethlehem and much fun is had as the three ‘king impersonators’ always throw sweets out to all the children watching the floats go by.

Happily the much loved Christmas light displays in Marbella and the other towns and cities on the Costa del Sol stay up and sparkling all through the first week of January until after Dia de Los Reyes. A night time visit to Marbella or San Pedro Alcántara to see their festive lights should be a ‘must do’ on any family’s yuletide itinerary. Always joyous always free! And if you catch an evening when a Christmas musical concert is underway then you will experience pure Christmas magic.

And don’t let the fun stop on the seventh of the month! This is the perfect time to hit the slopes for some family skiing in Sierra Nevada, just a few hours drive from Marbella. If the snowfall is sufficient then this is a great day out for children and adults alike and having fun in the snow always keeps the spirit of Christmas alive.

So you can wrap up warm and totally avoid the January blues in Spain in 2018. Check out the details of what’s happening in Marbella and the surrounding area via the links below, and let the children enjoy all the good things about Christmas well into the New Year.

Christmas Lights

Skiing in Sierra Nevada

About Ivar Dahl
Ivar Dahl is a long established and highly regarded Scandinavian real estate company that is located in Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Ivar Dahl, Marbella

Ivar Dahl

2017/12/19

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