Sus Majestades Los Reyes Magos in parades throughout Tenerife for Kings’ Eve 5 January.

[Janet]

In Spain, it is not just Father Christmas who delivers presents to all good Spanish girls and boys, it is also, and primarily, Sus Majestades Los Reyes Magos, their Majesties the three Wise Kings of the traditional and familiar nativity story. In recent years, Father Christmas has become increasingly popular, with many Spanish children now asking for, and expecting, presents from both sources, but the arrival of Los Reyes is still the most special of occasions.

"Kings' Day", Epiphany, or our Twelfth Night, is on January 6th, so everything apart from the most touristic of businesses will be closed, and as with Father Christmas, presents are delivered on the Eve, rather than the Day itself. Throughout Tenerife, therefore, there will be parades of Sus Majestades on the evening of the 5th.

The main parade, or cabalgata, is in Santa Cruz, but in south Tenerife, one of the most popular is in Los Cristianos, where the Kings arrive on camels at the harbour by ferry. Their procession starts around 5pm and follows the road up from the ferry, turns right up Avenida Suecia to Church Square, and from there parades to the Cultural Centre. In Adeje, the Kings arrive by helicopter at the El Galeón football ground around 6pm, and then proceed along the town's main Calle Grande. As they parade, they throw little gifts and sweets into the crowd.

Los Cristianos' and Adeje's parades are perhaps the most popular in the south, and the above videos show both towns' cabalgatas from 2011. Most towns have some sort of parade, though, and there will be something going on in all town squares. They therefore get extremely crowded, as the videos show, so get there at least two hours before it all starts for a good viewing position if you really want to enjoy seeing what's going on. JA

[Janet]

For those who were hoping to go to Santa Cruz to the main parade in the estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, this is a ticket only event, and tickets, a maximum of 6 per party, are now on sale – for just €1 each.  The Kings' arrival starts at 5pm, and more than 20,000 are expected to attend. Tickets can be acquired from:

Anaga District: Avenida Pedro Schwartz. Edificio Infobox, San Andrés, 8:30 – 13:30 pm.

Central District: plaza Arquitecto Marrero Regalado 7, 8:30 – 13:30.

Ofra-Costa Sur District: Calle Elías Bacallado 2, 8:30 – 13:30.

Southwest District: Carretera General del Sur 33 (km. 7,5), Edificio Airam local 12, Barranco Grande, 8.30 -13.30.

They can also be bought in the stadium box office itself between 10am and 1pm, and 4-8pm. The stadium has a capacity of 22,251, so tickets are subject to availability.

The Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz will give all proceeds from ticket sales to children's organizations, specifically Nuevo Futuro; Apanate; Asociación Aldis; AKI; Padre Laraña; Ahete; Aldeas Infantiles; Rotary Club en beneficio de ACAN; Asociación de Reinserción Social de Menores Anchieta y Funcasor. JA