All kids believe in Santa, at least that's what I think. I for one have believed his existence when I was a kid myself. During Christmas Eve, I hang a grocery bag (not a sock, but a grocery bag-- the bigger the pouch, the more present, I figured) on the fireplace. Imagine my delight when I wake up Christmas morning to find my grocery bag full of gifts! Thank you, Santa!
In Spain though, kids do not have Santa. It's rather sad, I know. But instead of the old, fat guy (my four-year old nephew said Santa should have a
personal exercise regimen) that we are all familiar of, Hispanic kids have the Three Kings to give them gifts. On Fiesta de los Tres Reyes (Feast of the Three Kings) which is on the 5th of January, kids write to the three kings about the things they want to have. The eve of the celebration, the kids hang a shoe on their windows (yep, shoes, not grocery bags) sill so the kings would know where to leave the goodies.
If the kids have been nice the entire year, they would surely get presents, but if not, they would get 'carbon' instead. Carbon is a sweet, akin to black sugar honeycomb, and is often given to the kids by adults as a joke if they've been naughty all year round. I just have one question though: if the Spanish kids have
three kings for Santa, does that mean they get gift three times more? Just wondering...
