Yet another fiesta!

Tonight is 12th night or Dia de los Reyes as it is here,  when presents are exchanged.  The villages all celebrate this occasion and the fireworks  have already started.

On our first year here we were surprised to find a gathering in the square outside the bar in Yator  of  2 horses and a donkey,  3 locals dressed up as the Kings,  all carrying flaming torches - real flames too -  rags on sticks dipped in oil - and that years fiesta committee with buckets of sweets  walking behind,  as they processed through the village they threw sweets to the children.  Also every child got a present from the Kings - handed in earlier but given direct to the child as they passed the family house.  We had some friends staying that year who had 3 young children  and even they were given a small present from the village.  A wonderful first 3 Kings night.

In 2008 we went into Cadiar for the night  to watch their celebrations.  Like Yator's but on a much bigger scale.  Looking back at the photos now it's a wonder no-one got hurt, the children carry flaming torches to light the way,  the horses have to go quite fast to get up the steep cobbled streets,  sweets and freebies from local businesses and banks (baseball caps and such like)  were thrown by the Kings for people  to scrabble for under and in between the horses hooves......

Our friend's son was a torch bearer, he was about 8 years old.

Throwing sweets for everyone.

But tonight we've decided to stay in and if the fireworks really get going well,  we will go out and watch them.  Last week was also fiesta in Yegen,  January 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  Wonderful display on the night of the  2nd which we watched from the front garden.  Maybe more tonight.  No wonder the country is broke!  All fiestas and fireworks!