La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Last night’s Three Kings parade was a joy. A brilliant show that included 14 floats and 17 tons of sweets (50% gummy candies, 35% chewy candies, 5% marshmallows, 10% dextrose tablets, and 2,600 kilos/5,732 pounds of chewy candies of assorted fruits), plus 143,000 crispy snacks (like cheese puffs). The police and fire department were there handing out sweets, as well, along with plastic fire helmets. It was a beautiful community effort that made so many (of us) very happy. Great neighbors of all ages laughing and singing. And being neighborly. We simply stood in front of our building and took it all in. I ate two of the gummy candies. Any others that came my way I passed to three excited teenagers who were filling tote bags. A family with three small children was next to me and I offered to pass my candies to them, but the mother laughed and said, “The kids don’t know that we still have last year’s candy!”
Of course the three kings did make their appearance: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, in that order. A totally sweet evening. I whittled 383 photos and videos down to 86 and I’ve only shared 26. You’re welcome. Melchior was portrayed by fireman Jesús Sánchez de la Rosa; Caspar by a woman, recently retired neonatal nurse, María del Mar Sánchez Espejo; and Balthazar by lawyer and son of Senagalese immigrants, Souliman Diallo.
I whittled 383 photos and videos down to 86 and I’ve only shared 26. You’re welcome.
El desfile de Reyes Magos de anoche fue una alegría. Un espectáculo brillante que incluyó 14 carrozas y 17 toneladas de dulces (50% gomitas, 35% caramelos masticables, 5% nubes, 10% tabletas de dextrosa, y 2.600 kilos de caramelos masticables de frutas variadas), además de 143.000 bocadillos crujientes. La policía y los bomberos también estuvieron allí repartiendo dulces, junto con cascos de plástico para bomberos. Fue un hermoso esfuerzo comunitario que nos hizo muy felices a muchos. Vecinos geniales de todas las edades riendo y cantando. Y siendo muy buenos vecinos. Simplemente nos quedamos frente a nuestro edificio y lo disfrutamos. Me comí dos gomitas. Cualquier otra que encontré se la pasé a tres adolescentes emocionados que llenaban bolsas de tela. A mi lado estaba una familia con tres niños pequeños y les ofrecí pasarles mis dulces, pero la madre se rió y dijo: “¡Los niños no saben que todavía tenemos los dulces del año pasado!”
Por supuesto, los tres reyes hicieron su aparición: Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar, en ese orden. Una velada totalmente dulce. Reduje 383 fotos y vídeos a 86 y solo he compartido 26. De nada. Melchor fue interpretado por el bombero Jesús Sánchez de la Rosa; Gaspar por una mujer, enfermera neonatal recientemente jubilada, María del Mar Sánchez Espejo; y Baltasar por el abogado e hijo de inmigrantes senegaleses, Souliman Diallo.
Reduje 383 fotos y vídeos a 86 y solo compartí 26. De nada.
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Dazzling! And among the inevitable “American cultural imperialism” of Disney and other cartoon/game characters, some gloriously-designed floats – of course, my fave is the array of enormous white feather abanicos! Some cute men amongst the throng, too… Jx
Jon:
Those feathered creatures were my favorites, too. And, yes, a lot of cute men!
Faaaaabulous! Which is what Santa with both arms in the air seems to be saying. You caught Caspar in an interesting pose vis-à-vis the sphinx. And that white feathered confection is glorious… I must keep it in mind for the next Veteran’s Day parade here at the condo. So tickled you had such a good time!
wickedhamster:
The feathered get-ups were stunning. And, yes, lucky capture of Caspar.
One of those dancing toy soldiers in the video was NOT giving it his all. He was my fave, lol.
Debra:
You noticed, too! I wanted to tell them to snap out of it. I also loved when their leader shoved the nose back in on the awkward one.
The photos and the video are fabulous; how fun. And nice when the community gets together.
We went to the Camden Christmas Parade last month and it was so much fun how much of our little town shows up and cheers and laughs and joins together.
Loved it.
Bob:
The community spirit is one of our favorite features of these events.
That’s a fabulous parade. So nice to gather with your neighbors and pass sweets on to the teens and attempt to do so with the younger children. It’s funny the parents said they still had last year’s candy! I’ve known some parents who were like that with Halloween goodies. Thanks for NOT sharing 383 photos. We’d be here all day!
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I can’t believe I got through the photos so quickly. Do you want to see the other 60 I saved?
Spanish people really know how to party! I used to celebrate three kings day when my son was small, but it was mainly cake! Boud
Boud:
We knew nothing about it until we moved to Spain. The best part of the holiday. And, even better, after it passes the holiday is done!
What an array of beautifully designed floats, costumes and participants. Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Jim:
These two years in Córdoba have showcased my favorite Three Kings parades.-
Wow! I like the photo where you captured candy in flight.
Kelly:
Oh, I tried and tried!
Wow, nobody does small street parades better than the Spanish! The music, lights, and joy are wonderful to behold, even without the sugar rush, LOL! Loved the camel, elephant and the white-feathered ladies too (Photo #13).
It’s gonna be hard not to think of firefighters as “bouncing bomberos” after this, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
Those bouncing bomberos were having a great time and I think a number of onlookers wanted to bounce with one or two (or five).
I am in agreement with the others- the white feathered confection for the win! The materials, lighting, and presentation are all so well done.
Ms. I Know Nothing About Parade Floats But That’s A Good One
Ms. Knownothingaboutparadefloats:
That was my favorite, too. And I also know nothing although I’ve seen a lot.
I like that one king’s (Caspar?) rather fabulous two-handed wave from his balcony! Is it sacrilege to suggest he may actually be a Queen?
Or a woman: “…recently retired neonatal nurse, María del Mar Sánchez Espejo”? Jx
Jon:
Thanks!
Oh, right! Subtract points for my reading comprehension. 🙂
Steve:
I have a spreadsheet.
Steve:
I see Jon already answered your question! Is it sacrilege to suggest is female? I was so pleased with that photo. Wish it had been in better focus, but you can’t have everything.
LOL — and I even read that paragraph, but I somehow failed to connect it to that photo. Oh well. It was late. And I’d had my glass of red wine. And I thought I was being so clever! 🙂
Steve:
You are always clever. I did find your comment funny… albeit not well read!
There’s nothing like dancing first responders!
Kirk:
The kids (and adults) loved them. Something for everyone.
Reminds me of Mardi Gra parades in New Orleans. My one lasting memory of Spain, was that people were genuinely happy. Maybe not smiling, but not angry, or upset.
David:
There were certainly a lot of happy people that day.
Such fun!
Judy C:
It’s uplifting.
Oh! Fun!
Rade:
We had a great time.
So, Three Kings is sort of like Mardi Gras only they throw candy instead of beads.
ellen abbott:
Exactly. And don’t flash any body parts either.