The Christmas season in Spain lasts until Jan 6th, when they celebrate Ephiphany or 3 Kings Day. At this time is when people give gifts because it celebrates when the 3 Kings came to offer Jesus gifts. In Algeciras, they have a special tradition that is in no other city in Spain. It is based on a tradition that one year when the people were very poor and could not afford Christmas gifts, the children went out in the streets to drag cans to make sure that the 3 Kings could hear them and remember to bring them gifts. This became a tradition which still lasts. On Dec 5th, they have a 'can parade' in which everyone drags cans behind them on the way to the port. Then everyone awaits the arrival of the 3 Kings whom come in on a boat at the port. I was amazed at how much noise the cans could make! We saw all kinds of cans...some pulled on a string in a line, some with small cans, some with very large cans, and some were very artistic making castles, crocodiles and even a baby's bed!
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