In Spain, the Christmas tradition is different than in Canada. Here in Spain and in other latin American countries, the holiday season ends on the Epiphany. In Alicante, they have two parades to celebrate the Epiphany. The first parade was on January 4th and began at the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) in Alicante.

We headed down to city hall early to see the start of the parade. People and children were gathering around excited for the start of the parade. There were different parade characters waiting for the parade to start.

We saw different characters walking around and Ray managed to stop and get his picture taken with some of them.

The parade also had different bands and a sleigh with “helpers to the three kings”.

There was also a group from the “Correos”  which is the government postal service in Spain. The parade travels through the main sections of the city collecting letters from children for the Three Kings. The letters contain the children’s wishes and requests for gifts to the Three Kings.

As we waited for the parade to start the “Kings Helpers” stepped out onto the balcony to wave to the crowd.

Shortly before the start of the parade, the “helpers” exit city hall and climb on the sleigh to start the parade.

We watched the parade and enjoyed seeing the children handing in their letters for the Three Kings.  It is a very different tradition from a Christmas parade in Canada. The parade is a prelude to the main parade on January 5th.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”