A Very Belated Feliz Reyes!

I have discovered my favorite holiday so far here in Spain and want to write about it before it is totally out of season…I am almost too late, and I apologize for the tardiness of this post.

I had been out at La Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (the parade of the Three Kings) in my village with some friends and was relaxing at home the night of the fifth, when I heard a little voice outside my door and some furtive tapping on the door. Opening it I found the little almost-three-year old clutching his of- the-moment favorite two plastic animals (a tiger and a small tiger). Asking him to repeat what he had been saying I was told that he needed two of my shoes to set out for the three kings. Together we found my nicest pair and went downstairs to put them next to the four other pairs set out in preparation. Leo was practically wiggling with excitement as his dad came in with the two trays, one piled with sweets and dates and three glasses of wine, and the other with a bowl of water, bread and carrots. It was carefully explained to me that the first was for the three Kings and the second for their camels. As Leo bent down to pick up one of the glasses of wine, it was explained to him once again. In his excitement, I think the process had to be explained about three times…it wasn’t easy, but he was finally gotten to bed with his little brother who seemed rather even keeled about the whole thing. After waiting a little for him to be properly asleep I gathered my wrapped gifts for my Spanish family and brought them downstairs and placed each package by the appropriate shoe.

The next day Leo must have decided to sleep in a little…I didn’t get a knock on my door until 8:30. Grabbing a sweater I stumbled downstairs to join the festivities. Christmas had arrived in Spain. Aside from the many, many toys the Kings had left, other beautifully wrapped packages for the older folks. All were unwrapped and delighted over and kisses for the special day exchanged. Later that afternoon we went to the house of Leo’s grandmother where, amidst food and family, the good cheer I craved for the holiday grew and swirled and warmed all that were there.

The magic is not so closely felt anymore. The season has passed. But I have discovered once again the magic of Christmas, the power of one day, to make everything seem collected and right again. My only regret is that I did not write my experience sooner, for perhaps if I had you would understand the joy and warmth of that day, the kind that seems to be lit by the smiles of children and angels, the kind that are filled with the smiles that come from the inner divine within us celebrating.

As life goes back to its normal schedule let the monotony of living not weigh us down, or let us forget those memories made in the last year, the last few days of holiday, that made us laugh or moved us.

God Bless you this week.

Kika