With Sweets and Music: The Three Kings Parade in Palma on January 5

With Sweets and Music: The Three Kings Parade in Palma on January 5

400 participants, 24 floats and four tons of sweets – an evening for the whole island

When in early January the lanterns along the waterfront start to cast a warm light over the water, you notice: Christmas time on Mallorca is not over yet. More on the city's holiday program is available in Christmas season in Palma: Over 300 events bring festive spirit to the city. On January 5, as planned, the Three Kings are due to arrive at Palma's harbour at 6:00 p.m. and from there will start a parade through the city. Around 400 people will take part in the procession, spread across 24 decorated floats; readers can find background on the parade redesign in More Floats, More Questions: Palma's Three Kings Parade Redesigned. Anyone living in Palma knows this mixture of cold sea wind on your face and the sweet smell of roasted almonds in the air.

I watched as a child how little fingers crumbled sweets into plastic bags and how grandmothers draped blankets over their knees on balconies to keep the best spots. This year will be no different: the organisers are bringing four tons of sweets to hand out to the waiting children. That means: sugar in large quantities, loud children's laughter, and hands reaching for treats. It's a scene you only see here in January – almost like one last big celebration before everyday life returns.

Families crowd in front of the harbour, often wearing thick jackets, carrying bags and thermoses. Street musicians tune up old Christmas songs or lively rumbas; the beat of drums mixes in. Steam rises from the cafés along the Passeig Marítim, and where the promenade narrows, small groups of neighbours gather to chat. Police and marshals will stand at the intersections, volunteers will help with handing out sweets. All of this makes the parade not just a show but a neighbourhood event.

What this means for Palma and the island: it's a piece of living tradition and at the same time a meeting point. For families it is a gift – children get a bit of the holiday magic handed back to them right on the street. For restaurateurs and small traders it is an extra evening of customers; the churro and roasted chestnut stalls will welcome visitors. For guests here at that time of year, it is an unexpected spectacle that shows Mallorca from a lesser-known, very local side.

Practically speaking: anyone who wants to join should arrive early. Coming by bus or bike saves the parking chaos; the promenade is often the quickest to reach. Bring a reusable bag or cloth bag – the sweets are a joy, but it helps to avoid litter. Watch out for children in the crowds, and for photographers: the best shots are from the sides of the floats, just before the cathedral, when the lights illuminate the figures. For more about Palma's lights and winter events see Palma in Its Christmas Dress: Lights, Sound and Little Winter Wonders.

Anyone who has never been will be surprised: the fairytale moment when the figures emerge from the darkness, the floats in colourful light, and the first sweets fly – it's a small folk custom that needs no museum. It's the simple things — the rustle of candy wrappers, a child's shout, an old man waving from his window — that linger.

My small wish for the night: come with open eyes and dress warmly, be considerate of the helpers and volunteers, and enjoy the mix of sea air, music and sweets. That way you can experience the island once again from its warm side. And who knows — maybe it's the perfect occasion to take a little walk through the lit old town with the family afterwards and start the new year with a warm cup of cocoa.