January 5th is a special night when children’s hearts race with excitement as they close their eyes and dream of the Three Kings of the Orient bringing the long-awaited gifts. They hope that the letter sent in advance reaches its destination without delay.
Each country has its own customs, and in Italy, it is not the Three Kings who delight children on January 6th but the Befana, a figure from the folklore of central Italy. Her name derives from the word "Epiphany," and she distributes gifts to good children, in a tradition reminiscent of Saint Nicholas, who became Santa Claus in Nordic cultures.
In Spain, the Feast of the Three Kings is filled with traditions such as the cabalgata on January 5th. As a prelude to the magical night, the Three Kings parade in magnificent floats accompanied by their entourage, distributing candies while each King’s pages collect letters from children who might have delayed sending theirs. Another custom on the eve of Epiphany is to leave the shoes of each family member on the balcony so Their Majesties can place sweets in them. According to tradition, bread and water should also be left out for the camels, along with a glass of liqueur or milk and some turrón to help the Kings and their tired animals regain their strength.
However, not every child will receive a gift. The Kings will leave a piece of coal for those who haven’t behaved well throughout the year. Luckily, the coal they find will be made of sugar, sweetening even the naughtiest ones.
To crown one of the most beautiful days of Christmas, the quintessential treat cannot be missed: the Roscón de Reyes. This traditional dessert was imported from France in the 18th century (known as Gâteau des Rois) when Philip V, Duke of Anjou and the first Bourbon king of Spain, moved to Madrid from the Palace of Versailles, bringing his culinary habits with him. The Roscón de Reyes is a soft, ring-shaped cake made from sweet dough, decorated with candied fruits, and filled with cream, custard, or even chocolate. Inside the cake, a figurine of one of the Three Kings is hidden, and the lucky person who finds it will be crowned king for the day. Tradition also dictates that the roscón contains a dried bean and a figurine. Whoever finds the figurine becomes king, but whoever finds the bean must pay for the roscón next year.
The Giant Roscón de Reyes of La Orotava
On January 4th, La Orotava bakes one of the longest Roscones de Reyes in Spain.
This year, La Orotava once again presents one of the island's most delicious and eagerly awaited traditions: the giant Roscón de Reyes, on the eve of the arrival of the Three Kings of the Orient. The presentation of this colossal cake marks its 13th edition, aiming to surpass the dimensions of previous years. Initially, the roscón measured about 100 meters, a figure that has been exceeded annually, reaching its largest size in January 2023, with 570 meters of delicious sweetness, consolidating it as the largest Roscón de Reyes ever made in the Canary Islands and one of the largest in Spain.
To give an idea of the scale of this giant recipe, approximately 300 kilos of flour, 20 kilos of fresh yeast, 15 liters of egg whites, and 5 liters of egg yolks were used, along with 15 liters of orange juice, over 150 kilos of candied fruits and nuts, 50 kilos of oranges, and other ingredients such as margarine, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, rum, water, milk, and lemon. This massive cake, weighing between 1,800 and 2,000 kilos, will be divided into over 5,000 portions distributed in exchange for a voluntary donation. The event also serves a charitable purpose, as the funds raised will be donated to the Red Cross's social programs for the neediest families in the municipality.
The Roscón de Reyes will be accompanied by delicious hot chocolate. Additionally, within some portions, surprises and gifts donated by local businesses in La Orotava will be hidden. Throughout the afternoon, there will be musical performances for both adults and children. Don’t forget to mark this date in your holiday calendar and enjoy this delightful and exquisite event on January 4th!