A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “The Kings and I,” 2 January 1970 »
"Once a year, I get my shoes neatly polished on the eve of the Feast of the Three Kings. According to the ancient and charming Spanish custom, on the night of January 5th, the three Kings pause by my apartment building, squeeze their camels into the elevator. But this year, frankincensuously, I'm not sure that the Kings are going to come my way. I'd guess that the cost of supporting a camelcade would run high. My most reliable source, the year-old son of my portero, assures me, though, that despite all the difficulties, the Kings will arrive in Madrid this year."
A SECOND OPINION: A Year to Ponder »
Three Kings • Energy Independence • Migrants • Bail Reform • Green Agenda • Ukraine • China • US Presidential Election • Blizzard
LEG OF LAMP? »
In the 1970s, Alpedrete, Madrid, was famous for its Fiestas Navideñas. Village elders rode into the village on horseback dressed as The Three Kings in full regalia. Fast forward to 2022, the era of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and what do we have in Northport, Long Island? A leg lamp lighting ceremony! Northport village elders feel that anybody can light a tree, or ride into town on horseback, but you have to have a certain, uh , ‘special outlook’ on life to light a lamp shaped like a leg!
A Second Opinion: Christmas Without a Tree »
What are we going to do without a Christmas Tree to decorate this year? Aguantamos, we suffer it, and put our presents under a table and prepare a sumptuous Christmas dinner and go to Midnight Mass if we can. But it just won’t be the same.
BELENES: WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS TRULY NAVIDAD! »
In the Spain of the post-Franco era, secularism has been steadily gaining ground. One might say, at an alarming rate. Then why, despite the steady waning of Catholicism, are the belenes (Nativity scenes) still profoundly popular in Spain? Read on and find out!
EL ROSCÓN DE REYES: The King´s Ring Cake »
One of the most popular Christmastime sweet treats in Spain is the roscón, the King´s Ring Cake. Strictly speaking, it should be eaten on the 6th of January. In practice the delightful sweet-tooth pleasure is served from the "First Day of Christmas" (December 25) through the "Twelfth Day" (January 6) or the Epiphany when the Star of Bethlehem reveals the Infant Jesus to the Three Kings, putting an end to the Christmas celebrations.
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION. IN AUGUST? SURE! »
There's nothing perfunctory about the celebration of the New Year's Eve right bang in the middle of summer The hilly village, home to a scarce 800 inhabitants, sees to it that it has at least all the basic trimmings indispensable to a true Nochevieja celebration in Spain: the essential Three Kings, the grapes for the New Year's Eve, Holiday Season delicacies. And fun in huge quantities!
A TALK WITH THE YOUNG & DEDICATED MAYOR OF BÉRCHULES, DON ISMAEL PADILLA GERVILLA »
"Nochevieja en Agosto is no flash in the pan. We're now on our 25th year. Because of the proven continuity of our fiesta, we've become eligible for the dintinction of Fiesta de Interes Turistico. Not every initiative of every village gets to survive a quater of a century and generates so much interest. May our friends enjoy the fiesta immensely, the atmosphere be truly festive throughout the celebration, and cordiality and friendship reign."
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS HERE,” 19 December 1986 »
Thirty-two years ago, this lovely article was published in Guidepost. Age hasn't dimmed its vividness. And Spain at Christmas, as the writer described it, still is very much the same despite Santa Claus, the Christmas trees and the Christmas lights which, on the other hand, are welcome imports. FELIZ NAVIDAD everyone!
NO CHARCOAL, PLEASE, OH THREE WISE MEN »
From the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Kings’ Cavalcade in Spain, this is a story whose magic has not dimmed after 2000 years.
