Epiphany

When is it celebrated

The Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on 6 January, a fixed date on the calendar. In popular Spanish tradition, a good part of the family and public events begin on the afternoon of 5 January with the parades and culminate on the morning of the 6th with the giving of gifts. The routes, schedules and complementary activities change every year and must be consulted in the municipal programmes.

Is it a holiday or a working day?

6 January is among the national public holidays that can be replaced by the autonomous communities. In the 2026 work calendar, none of them exercised that power, so Epiphany was a holiday in all autonomous communities and cities. This situation should not be assumed for later years: the state resolution and the corresponding community calendar must be checked.

Origin and geographical link

The Epiphany is a Christian solemnity of international scope linked to the story of the wise men from the East who come to worship Jesus. In Spain it is popularly known as Three Kings' Day and combines the religious celebration with a deep-rooted family and festive tradition. The Historical Archive of the Nobility remembers that the Gospel of Matthew does not indicate that the wise men were kings, that there were three of them, or their names; those elements were gradually consolidated in the later tradition.

Regular events

The most characteristic public event is the afternoon parade of 5 January, with floats of Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar, pages, cultural groups, music, performing arts and distribution of candy. The format varies by municipality and some organise receptions, shows or neighbourhood tours. On 6 January, Epiphany masses are celebrated and, in homes, it is customary to open the gifts attributed to the Three Wise Men and share the Three Kings roscón.

Usual duration of events

The popular celebration usually lasts from the afternoon of 5 January to the 6th. A municipal parade usually takes several hours, depending on the length of the route and the final show. As an example, the main Madrid parade of 2026 began at 6:00 p.m. and anticipated the arrival and message of the Kings around 9:00 p.m. Receptions, masses and family gatherings follow their own schedules, so there is no single duration for the entire country.

Traditions and history

During the Middle Ages, the image of three kings called Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar was created based on the brief Gospel story and the three offerings of gold, incense and myrrh. The National Library preserves the Car of the Three Wise Men, from the 12th century, the oldest preserved theatrical text in Spanish and an early testimony of this tradition. Over time, children's letters, gifts, nativity scenes with the Magi before the Child, parades and the shared roscón on 6 January became established in Spain.

Where is it celebrated

The religious and family holiday is observed throughout Spain. The parades occupy streets and squares of cities, towns and districts, with routes defined by each town hall; Madrid, Alcoy and numerous capitals and municipalities offer their own programmes. Liturgical celebrations take place in cathedrals and parishes, while the exchange of gifts and meals takes place mainly in homes. The offer of public events is not uniform and depends on local programming.

Who participates

City councils usually organise or coordinate the parades together with artistic companies, neighbourhood and cultural associations, schools, clubs, social entities, volunteers and municipal services. Those representing the Three Wise Men, pages, musicians, dancers and technical personnel take part in the parades; Families, and especially children, form the main audience. Parishes, ministers and faithful participate in the religious dimension. The list of groups changes depending on the location and the edition.