- Roy Schijvens
- Last updated on 02/01/2025
Three Kings Day Tenerife: Celebrating a Beloved Tradition with Splendor!
The Day of the Three Kings is also known as Dia de Los Reyes in Spanish. The celebration of the Three Kings’ Day may very well be the most popular celebration for young and old people in Spain and other Spanish-speaking cultures. This annual event takes place after the New Year, although most people have already finished the Christmas period, people from Spain and other Spanish-speaking cultures are still waiting for their gifts. They receive their presents on the 6th of January, 12 days after Christmas.
The Days Leading Up to Three Kings Day
In the days in between, until 5 January, children write letters to the Three Kings asking for presents. The day before Three Kings Day is a day for parades all over Spain, also in Tenerife there are beautiful parades about which you can read more below. One evening before 5 January the children leave their shoes at the door in the hope that the Three Kings will leave presents during their nightly visit.
What are the Names of the Three Kings in Spanish
Celebrating the 3 Kings Day in Spanish cultures brings a magical tradition to life, particularly prominent in Spain and its cultural extensions. Known as “Los Reyes Magos” in Spanish, the Three Kings are central figures in the festivities of Three Kings Spain. Their names—Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar—resonate with historical and biblical significance, each bearing gifts for the infant Jesus on the twelfth day after Christmas, celebrated as the Epiphany.
Why Unpack Gifts After Christmas
On Christmas Day many children get a small present or two, but the big day for presents is on January 6 or during Three Kings Day.
Three Kings Day Tradition
This tradition originated because Jesus was visited 12 days after his birth by the wise men who brought him presents. The tradition is rooted by this story and that is why the Three Kings come 12 days after Christmas to offer presents to children.
The 3 Kings Parade in Tenerife 05-01-2025
As every year, the Three Wise Men or “Los Reyes Magos”, as they are called in Spanish, return to Tenerife on the 5th of January. Their names are Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar. Below you will find the 3 biggest parade locations of Tenerife. But all over the island of Tenerife different towns organize their own festivities for the 3 kings. It is a really nice event to attend when you are in Tenerife, so don’t miss it!
The Parade of Santa Cruz
Several parades and activities will take place in the capital of Tenerife Santa Cruz. The most famous one will start in the centre of Santa Cruz at 17:00. The event will take place in the “Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium”. Here the 3 kings will be welcomed and there will be a nice show especially for the children. After this show there will be a parade through the streets of Santa Cruz. This parade is not as big and spectacular as the Coso Apoteosis Tenerife of Santa Cruz but definitely fun!
Watch the Parade in Los Cristianos
There will also be a Three Kings event held in Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife from 18:30 to approx. 20:30. Children will have the opportunity to give their letters to the Three Kings, where they usually write down their wishes for gifts. This will take place outside the ”Centro Cultural Los Cristianos” and will be followed by a parade through Los Cristianos.
Celebrate the Three Kings Holiday in Spain: A Festival of Joy and Giving
The Three kings holiday in Spain is a special time in Tenerife and all over Spain. Known as Dia de Los Reyes and celebrated on January 6th, this day is all about joy, gifts, and colorful parades. On this day, children and families across Tenerife enjoy watching the Three Kings – Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar – as they parade through the towns, bringing gifts and smiles.
In places like Santa Cruz, Los Cristianos, and Garachico, the streets fill with music, dancing, and laughter. Each town has its own way of making this day fun with parades that everyone loves. It’s a time for everyone, locals and visitors alike, to come together and share in the happiness of the season.
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