- This event has passed.
Parade of the ‘Rois Mages’ (three Wise Men)
6th January - 7th January
Event Navigation
Les Rois Mages – The Three Wise Men
Forget the post-Christmas blues, the festivities continue over the weekend of Epiphany (7th January).
A big part of the Catalan calendar, celebrating the arrival of the Rois mages, the three Wise men, brings parades, and crowds, to towns across the P-O.
On horse or camel back, the kings, Gaspard, Melchior and Balthazar, who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, parade through the streets accompanied by exotic dancers, jugglers, fire eaters, a variety of animals….and satsumas and hot chocolate for the kids.
The kings often collect letters from children, containing their wishes (remise des vœux) for loved ones, amidst an oasis of palms, light and interesting animals and characters.
Procession usually also contain ‘gégants‘, enormous painted papier-maché figures, sometimes 14 or 15 ft tall, with traditional clothing and a person inside. They usually appear in couples, often as king and queen, or some important person in the history of the town and differ from commune to commune, each town having its own ‘gégants’.
Confirmed parades
Saturday 6th, 2pm, Canet en Roussillon
Saturday 6th, 3pm, Perpignan
Saturday 6th, 3pm, Saint Cyprien
Sunday 7th, 3pm, Argelès sur Mer