The Three Kings parade always passes through the Sant Antoni neighborhood of Barcelona. Before they came from Plaza Universitat and took Sepúlveda. Since the Via Laietana is under construction, take the Colom promenade, Paral·lel, Ronda Sant Pau, Urgell and Sepúlveda again. It is the largest parade in the city, the most crowded, with more floats, more participants, music, choreography, light effects, gift packages... And the Three Wise Men, of course. But their Majesties, if you look closely, you can see that they are wearing makeup, with wigs, that their clothes hang here and there, and the next day some chronicler describes the resemblance of Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar with a politician, a singer or some other famous person.
Yesterday at seven thirty in the afternoon I went down to the patrol to watch the parade go by. In the midst of the lights and music that accompany the floats, some crazy girls who danced and greeted the Kings and pages effusively caught my attention. Will it be them? In the third row was a man with a mustache and a hat, with a girl on his shoulders so she could see everything. I think it must be him. A young couple with three open-mouthed children. They are too, for sure. A grandmother who collects candy, a father who has come down the stairs at home so that the children can climb on it, an aunt with her nephews following the rhythm of the music, some kids in tracksuits.
Yes, it was them. They were all the Reis Macos disguised as normal people. They all had a special light in their eyes, they were residents of the Sant Antoni neighborhood who had participated in the initiative of the NGO De Veí a Veí. With a small financial contribution you can sponsor the letter of a child to whom the Reis Macos have brought the toy that he has requested and also candy, school supplies and other toys provided by neighborhood entities. Every year the Reis Macos return, the real ones.
