Three Kings' Fair on Gran Vía, the last hope for the perfect gift
Preliminary Note: The article you are about to read is related to Christmas and may contain spoilers about one of its main traditions. Therefore, we recommend keeping this post out of reach of children.
Barcelona, January 5th. It's the night of the Three Kings. As the city awaits the arrival of the Magi the next day to pass judgment on their good behavior over the past year, the entire city sleeps peacefully or tosses and turns in bed. The entire city? No, on a street in Barcelona, hundreds of people run desperately through the stalls of a market in search of a miracle. Whether it's that trendy toy that has been sold out for weeks in toy stores and shopping centers, or that handbag, coat, or craft item that will save them, once more, from their poor gift planning for the Three Kings' Day.
This is the fate of the Santo Tomás and Reyes Fair, which has been celebrated since 1877 on Gran Vía, between Calabria and Muntaner. What began with a gathering of 18 stalls selling toys and candies has grown over the years to the 273 stands that have opened in this year's edition. And it's not just toys that are sold. Jewelry, silverware, clothing, scarves, hats, accessories, home decor, and craft items can all be found at this traditional Christmas market.
Although it has a century-old history, the Kings' Fair on Gran Vía is not as famous as the Fira de Nadal de Santa Llúcia, which it usually takes over from each year. As the arrival of the Three Wise Men is a Spanish tradition, its reach and popularity have been limited compared to other European pre-Christmas markets that focus on the arrival of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, the Basque Olentzero, or the archetypal old man from each culture who brings gifts to good children. Be that as it may, few cities can boast such an extensive Christmas calendar as Barcelona. Between the Fira de Santa Llúcia, the one at Sagrada Familia, and the one on Gran Vía, Barcelona ensures a month and a half of Christmas spirit to attract tourism.
Special mention goes to the churro stands at the fair. Up to 11 this year. Ah, the churro stands! With a freshly started winter and the wind that usually punishes a street as open as Gran Vía, a good hot chocolate goes down better, to shake off the cold. And since it's customary to eat around this time, it's better to accompany it with classic churros, filled with cream or custard, 'porras', waffles, or the 'xuixo' from Girona, which is celebrating its centenary. It's all for the sake of the country. Resisting the temptation can be easy when passing the first stand, and the second, and maybe the third. But with so many stops spreading that unmistakable smell throughout the fair, on both sides of the street, there comes a time when it's better to give in, yield to the impulses and let yourself be carried away by that hypnotic aroma that traps us as if it were the Pied Piper of Hamelin. After all, the 'roscón de Reyes' is still waiting for us.
Indeed, let's not let our impromptu feast distract us from our main purpose of visiting the market, which is none other than to do our Christmas shopping. For this, we have non-stop hours from 11 am to 10 pm to walk up and down the sidewalks of Gran Vía in search of the ideal gift, and to convince ourselves that with so much walking we are burning off the 'xuixo'. In case of indecision, we can always come back another day, since the fair is permanently set up from December 20th until the early hours of the 6th, when the Three Kings have already arrived in our city.
It is precisely at that peak moment of the Three Kings' fair. Whether it's due to the indecision of children, who ask for everything they see advertised on TV, or due to their parents' lack of time to buy gifts without arousing suspicion, the Barcelona thoroughfare becomes a swarm of people desperately scouring the stalls in search of the saving gift. The luckiest, after finding it, leave the boulevard satisfied, like someone who finds a needle hidden in a haystack. The rest have no choice but to go over all the stops again to find that bare minimum gift that allows them to just get by. In the absence of a Playmobil farm, a stable will do. To soothe their spirits, and to regain strength after hours of walking, they will not find it hard to convince themselves that they deserve a reward. So, a new visit to the churro stand will always be a good end to this relentless search. The Bikini Operation can wait.
