The Three Kings Parade of Alcoy: the oldest in Spain.
The Three Kings Parade (suspended this year due to the protection measures imposed by COVID19), in the city of Alcoy, is a tradition that each year, during the 5th of January in Alicante, shows us why it is officially declared as "Festival of National Tourist Interest", and it has, with more than enough reasons, the reputation of being the oldest in Spain; but far beyond of what it represents at a religious level for Christianity, and what it perhaps does not mean for so many other religions, and / or atheists around the world, it is without a doubt, a party dedicated to the simplest illusions that keeps this activity for the children of each family in many ways. The Three Kings Parade, already during the new year, becomes an extension of Christmas, the finishing touch, to express it with some kind of luxury that pretends to be more spiritual than material. It is no less true that the party itself does not conflict, and it is also designed for enjoyment and sharing between adults, locals or foreigners. It is recognized that the first performance of the Parade as such, dates from 1866. The opening or welcome of Christmas, is represented with the theatrical staging of "Tirisiti", staging that is performed with Puppets, and which mixes events that are narrating the birth of the baby Jesus, the arrival of the Three Kings, and the celebration of the Moors and Christians festivals, so representative of the city of Alcoy. The royal ambassador announces with his proclamation, on January 4, the arrival in the city of Their Majesties Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, who came from the East. The children come to listen to him and deposit their letters for the Kings in small donkeys, loaded with mailboxes and pulled by the royal pages. That night, the Three Kings will read all the children's letters to bring them the toys the next day. On January 5, their Majesties, finally, walk the streets of Alcoy on the back of camels and accompanied by all their royal entourage: pages, "pastors" ... More than a thousand alcoyans take part on this parade. The pages go up to the houses along the facades with the help of long stairs. They carry with them gifts that they give to the children of some of the houses on the main floors of the streets of the route, especially St. Nicholau Street, with its spectacular modernist buildings. This show is accompanied by musical melodies written for the ride and performed by the three local bands: “Corporación Musical Primitiva”, “Sociedad Música Nova” and “Unión Musical” and different groups such as “La Xafigà de Muro”. When the Three Kings arrive at Plaza de España, in the center of the city, they descend from their camels and approach the Nativity. At the time of worship, their majesties deliver gold, incense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. All this accompanied by the interpretation of Händel's Hallelujah. It begins at 07:00 pm in the upper area of the city, then partially coinciding with the route of the Moorish and Christian entrances. Around 08:00, the Three Kings (Melchior, Gaspar, Balthasar) arrive at Plaza de España and worship at the living birth, launching a fireworks display. Once this precious act has ended, the parade continues through the rest of the center streets, ending at the Church of San Roque, where the Three Kings enter the Church as a sign of devotion and thanksgiving to the Child. This type of traditional events, besides of accommodating many tourists, show us every year that they serve to give human warmth, thanks to the sharing and sincere enjoyment that the inhabitants of Alcoy give their children and visitors, in such typical weather of the Christmas cold, and by far, what fits the best to this occasion is to look at the sky and thank God.