Tomorrow, January 6th, Spain celebrates the Holiday of the Three Wise Men from the Orient, also known as the Three Kings, or the Feast of Epiphany.

But, in true fashion of all Latin countries, the Three Kings arrive already tonight (at least in Mallorca, where I live).

And the arrival is quite a pleasurable event. Traditionally, it is said that the travellers from the Orient arrived on camelback, such as in my photo (taken from an expansive Nativity scene in the Claustre de Sant Antoniet, in Palma). But in Mallorca, the Kings will arrive in a different way and by different means, depending on the village and the geography. They may arrive by boat, such as in Palma or in Portocolom, on donkey or muleback, on motorbikes, by 4×4 cars, by tractor, someplace even by helicopter; all of these means are attractive and picturesque.

Those of us who can’t welcome the Kings personally are treated to a lengthy broadcast on both, national as well as regional television, of their colourful cavalcadas.

Children all over Spain love the Reyes Magos and await their arrival with long anticipation. After all, the Kings are the bringers of the Christmas presents.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The date: December 22nd, 2007. The time was 12:54:43.