Dec
25
Santa Claus vs. Los Reyes Magos
Ladies and Gentlemen: Welcome to the Heavyweight Xmas match-up of the decade. In the left corner, standing at 5 ft. 10 ins. tall and weighing in at 250 lbs, that jolly old man from the North Pole with a string of aliases and elves in his wake: Santa Claus!
In the right corner, standing at about 15 ft. tall and weighing more than a couple of tons thanks to their combined weight and their trio of camels — Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar– los Reyes Magos!!
Never heard of them? Well, in Spain, los Reyes Magos (in English, the Three Wise Men), used to be the predominant symbol of the winter holiday season in Spain. At least for children. Traditionally, January 6, the day of the Three Kings, (not December 25) was when Spanish children would be rewarded and receive presents for their good behavior during the previous year. That is, until jolly St. Nick (a.k.a. Papa Noel) came to town and crashed the Three Kings’ party.
In recent years, Santa and his elves have been tremendously aided and abetted by mass merchants in Spain like El Corte Inglés, who figured that their commercial interests dovetailed nicely with the fat guy in the red suit.
Now it is becoming routine for Spanish children to receive two sets of gifts during the winter holiday season: The first batch from Santa on December 25 and then a second set of gifts from los Reyes Magos on January 6.
Just before Xmas break, I asked my first-grade students who brought them gifts: Santa Claus or the Three Kings? More than half of the class said both. Ask any random child in Spain who is responsible for bringing the presents, and it’s very likely the child will say the gifts come from los Reyes Magos AND Santa.
The growing popularity of Santa Claus is troubling to some Spaniards. So much so that a tongue-in-cheek campaign called “Yo soy de los Reyes Magos” (”I support the Kings”) was started this month to remind Spaniards who they should be supporting.
I think it’s time for a Nancy Reaganesque-style campaign in Spain, a retooled “Just Say No” to Santa campaign. Personally, it seems ridiculous that parents are indulging their children with two sets of presents in such a short time frame. Whatever happened to the true meaning of Christmas? Where’s Jimmy Stewart when we need him?
Wow, this is really interesting, I never knew anything about this tradition.
Great site (design *and* content)…definitely subscribing!
Thanks, Ravi!! Look forward to seeing you here often.
Really enjoyed your post. I love learning about other country’s traditions. I’m sorry that you are being bombarded with the “Christmas for more profit Santa scheme”. It saddens me that Christmas…a time for traditions…has become so commercial!
Patricia,
Me too!! Couldn’t agree with you more.
Thanks for sharing this story. Links from my blog is coming in few minutes.
[…] Santa Claus vs. Los Reyes Magos by voicesenespanol from Voices en Español about "Santa vs los Reyes Magos: Santa meets his match in Spain". Although this post isn’t about the blogger himself, but it’s interesting enough for me to link to. […]
I read in the ultra-conservative establishment British newspaper - The Daily Telegraph - “Christmas is well and truly over” 27 December 2007, pág. 25. In Great Britain the whole festival is piled upon one big day. Shops stock christmas goods from September, and we’re urged to spend spend spend! By Christmas day (25 Dec) you feel like Christmas has been going for three months already. Then you have to eat the biggest meal of your life! Its very stressful and expensive. On the 27th, people rushed to sell their unwanted presents on eBay!
I like the way the Spanish spread out the festivities. Santa Claus is nice for the children, but he’s got nothing to do with Jesus’s Birthday. British Christmas is nearly all about shops making money. Don’t let Spain become like that!
Trevor,
Too late! Spain is rapidly following in the U.K./U.S. footsteps of over commercializing Christmas. It’s a bit of a drag.
Thanks for your comment!!