Three Kings Day Eve

 At the end of the day Miranda described Three Kings Day better than Christmas and the Fourth of July combined.   But I am getting ahead of myself.

 The Celebrations in Chucena began around 3 in the afternoon.  We all headed down to the main town square where 4 floats were waiting.  There was a short procession of Princesses (I have no idea what the story behind the princesses are but I will try ot find out)
We walked with the floats down the street to the church where they are just finishing up the short Mass ceremony with the three kings.  This is where the whole Kaden falling debacle happened so check my previous post for more on that.

After Steven and Kaden drove away the Kings from the church came out with a whole tribe of people for each king and they all got onto their own large float.  The floats were filling to the brim with bags of things that they would be throwing out to people all day.

What happened for the next 3 hours is nothing like I have ever experienced.  The three floats spent 3 whole hours going up and down almost every road in Chucena.  As they drove the people followed them.  Not followed behind them but went from one place that they would be to the next.  Many people positioned themselves so that the parade passed them several times throughout the day.  We were there at the beginning and then went and found the floats one other time.  After that we went home because we knew that the floats would pass in front of our home as well.  Then we went down to the main square where they all passed us one more time.  It was a total of about 4 times.

 The things they were throwing to the people was a mixture of everything imaginable.  There was candy of course but some of the other thins were stuffed animals (super large and small0, balls (super large and small), real soccer balls, sets of plastic forks, knives, and spoons.  They were throwing all sorts of toys, we got a play kitchen set, a bow and arrow set, little cars, hats, bags, backpacks, and so many others.  And then there were things for the adults such as cute women's belts and scarves.
In the US we are so used to a parade being really for the kids and anything they throw is mostly for the kids but this parade was not that way at all.  The adults and kids alike were diving for the objects, not in a rude way but certainly in a way that said don't try and just in front of me just because you are a kid.  I was crazy but crazy fun.  When all was said and one people kept coming up to us and giving us things that they got but didn't want and we ended up with about 15 balls and way too many other things.

A few days ago we got a note on our door that said if you wanted your child to receive a personal gift from the three king then you could bring their gift to the town hall building and the three kings would hand them out to the children.  
Steven and I wanted to the kids to experience this so we got gift in secret and took them to town hall.  At the end of the parade to Kings got off their floats and stepped onto a stage where they read off the names of the children they had gift for.  It was so much fun because our children didn't now that they would be getting gifts so they thought we were just watching to see what was going on.  Then their names started getting called and each of them one by one went up and the kings gave them their gifts.  It was soooo cool.   Also as a side not Steven got back to us from his trip to the hospital with Kaden just at the right time as we were having the floats pass us the last time in the square.  I was so greatful he was back before all of this ending happened.
All in all it was an amazing day.  We felt so much apart of the community and it seemed the whole town was out and about.
As a side not, Everyone was dressed up to the hilt.  The women were walking around all day in skirts and high heals while the men wore their nice pants and coats.  I felt underdressed for the day but that is ok.
When we first found out that we were coming to Spain on Christmas eve the children were a little bit sad to be missing out on a normal Chirstmas, I think this day made up for it. The Children thought it was the most amazing holiday that they have ever had, And It was only the Eve of the Holiday  tomorrow I will tell about a few more Three Kings Day Traditions.