Hoje conhecemos…a Cabalgata de Reyes Magos em Majadahonda.
É o nosso primeiro ano a viver em Espanha, ainda não temos bem esclarecidas algumas tradições que aqui se celebram. O nosso filho por exemplo já abriu todos os seus presentes que trouxe o Pai Natal, os espanhóis esperam pelos Reis. Até faz sentido sendo que o menino Jesus só recebeu presentes quando os Reis chegaram, segundo reza a lenda.
Today we have discovered… the Cabalgata Reyes Magos in Majadahonda.
It’s our first year living in Spain, we still don’t have quite established some traditions that are celebrated here. Our son for example has opened all his presents that Santa brought the Spaniards await Kings. It kinda makes sense being that the baby Jesus only received the presents when the Kings came, so the story tells.
It’s our first year living in Spain, we still don’t have quite established some traditions that are celebrated here. Our son for example has opened all his presents that Santa brought the Spaniards await Kings. It kinda makes sense being that the baby Jesus only received the presents when the Kings came, so the story tells.
Assim sendo toda uma história é montada á volta dos Reis Magos, maior ainda que a que montamos com o Pai Natal ou pelo menos, aqui não perderam a sua tradição.
No dia 5 (hoje), pais e filhos deslocam-se a ver a Cabalgata que é a chegada dos Reis á cidade para distribuir os presentes pelas crianças, mas apenas deixam nas que se portaram bem, as outras recebem um carvão com sabor a caramelo, que é vendido nesta altura para o efeito.
Há várias Cabalgatas, uma das mais famosas é a de Madrid, mas nós fomos á do nosso “bairro”. Confesso que ainda me baralho com este conceito de se mascararem por esta altura e que é umas semanas antes do Carnaval. E a Cabalgata é no fundo um desfile de carros alegóricos, de grupos de dança ou bandas tradicionais, portanto um Carnaval sem as meninas do biquini e uma pouco mais dedicado a histórias de crianças sem a sátira social que para problemas já bastam os que têm os país.
Os vários carros vão passando intercalados com bandas musicais que animam a audiência. Entretanto os ajudantes dos Reis Magos entregam ofertas aos mais pequenos na forma de “caramelos” ou rebuçados e balões. As prendas maiores chegam mais tarde…e só são abertas amanhã logo ao acordar.
Um dos carros que passou foi o Presépio, com a mangedoura, o José e a Maria, que não aparece bem na foto porque estava a socializar.
Thus a whole back story is mounted around the Three Kings, even bigger than the one we set up with Santa Claus or at least, they haven’t lost their tradition.
On 5th day (today), parents and children travel to see Cabalgata which is the arrival of the Kings to the city to distribute gifts for the children, but only to those that have behaved well, the other receiving a charcoal with a caramel flavour, which is sold at this time for this purpose.
There are several Cabalgatas, one of the most famous is that of Madrid, but we went to the one of our “neighborhood”. I confess that I still get confused with this concept of masking by this time and that it’s a few weeks before Carnival. And the Cabalgata is basically a parade of cars, dance groups or traditional bands, so a carnival without the bikini girls and a little more dedicated to children stories without the social satire that this country already has enough problems.
Several cars are passing interspersed with musical bands that animate the audience. Meanwhile the helpers of the Three Kings deliver more offerings in the form of small “fudge” or candies and balloons. The greatest gifts come later … and are only open tomorrow right after waking up.
One of the cars that passed was the Nativity, with the manger, Jose and Maria, who did not show up well in the photo because I was socializing.
On 5th day (today), parents and children travel to see Cabalgata which is the arrival of the Kings to the city to distribute gifts for the children, but only to those that have behaved well, the other receiving a charcoal with a caramel flavour, which is sold at this time for this purpose.
There are several Cabalgatas, one of the most famous is that of Madrid, but we went to the one of our “neighborhood”. I confess that I still get confused with this concept of masking by this time and that it’s a few weeks before Carnival. And the Cabalgata is basically a parade of cars, dance groups or traditional bands, so a carnival without the bikini girls and a little more dedicated to children stories without the social satire that this country already has enough problems.
Several cars are passing interspersed with musical bands that animate the audience. Meanwhile the helpers of the Three Kings deliver more offerings in the form of small “fudge” or candies and balloons. The greatest gifts come later … and are only open tomorrow right after waking up.
One of the cars that passed was the Nativity, with the manger, Jose and Maria, who did not show up well in the photo because I was socializing.
Depois veio uma série de carros alegóricos que pareciam estar ligados a histórias infantis e contos de fadas, nem todos consegui idenficar mas vimos o Corcunda de Notredame e um em que o boneco parecia o Shrek. Alguns deles pareciam saídos de um desfile da Disney mas mais “low-cost”.
Then came a series of floats that seemed to be linked to children’s stories and fairy tales, but I couldn’t identify all but we saw the Hunchback of Notredame and in of them a character that looked like Shrek. Some like something out of a Disney parade but more “low-cost”.
E podemos pensar: “Mas que faz o Bob Esponja no meio do desfile?” Bom, como o principal público-alvo são as crianças está explicado. Aqui o Bob faz um sucesso tão grande que houve pais a quebrar as barreiras para que os filhos lhe tocassem…é um “rock star”.
And we could think, “What is SpongeBob doing in the middle of the parade?” Well, as the main target audience is children it’s explained. Here Bob is such a success that there were parents to break down barriers so their children touched him… it’s a “rock star”.
As grandes estrelas da noite eram sem dúvida os três Reis Magos que vieram em três carros diferentes. O Melchior, o Gaspar e o Baltasar passaram sempre bem acompanhados e nos carros mais coloridos e compostos do desfile.
Uma coisa é certa, há que reconhecer o esforço de todos os envolvidos a organizar este evento. Quando procurei informação vi muita gente a criticar a falta de qualidade porque a comparam com a que há no centro de Madrid, digamos que é quase como comparar o Carnaval do Rio com o de Sines, simplesmente não se faz. Muita gente trabalhou para fazer deste dia inesquecível para as crianças e temos que louvá-lo porque ninguém lhes paga para estar ali, pelo menos não a todos.
Para o ano haverá mais Cabalgatas, quem sabe teremos paciência para ir á do centro de Madrid…
The big stars of the night were undoubtedly the Three Kings who came in three different cars. Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar in the most colorful and decorated cars of the parade.
One thing is certain, we must recognize the efforts of all those involved in organizing this event. When I sought information seen many people criticize the lack of quality because they compared with what is in the center of Madrid, say it is almost like comparing Rio Carnival with Sines you simply don’t do it. Many people worked to make this day memorable for the kids and we have to praise them because no one is paying them to be there, at least not to everyone.
Next year there will be more Cabalgatas, maybe we will have some patience to go to the one in the center of Madrid …
One thing is certain, we must recognize the efforts of all those involved in organizing this event. When I sought information seen many people criticize the lack of quality because they compared with what is in the center of Madrid, say it is almost like comparing Rio Carnival with Sines you simply don’t do it. Many people worked to make this day memorable for the kids and we have to praise them because no one is paying them to be there, at least not to everyone.
Next year there will be more Cabalgatas, maybe we will have some patience to go to the one in the center of Madrid …
Vivemos em/We live in:
Living in Iberia 