Now. The Three Kings. A friend asked me right after I finished the last blog if I wanted to be a Rey Mago this year, they were short on volunteers. I said "yes, of course!" and boy did I not know what I was getting myself into. But 9 am the next morning I arrived for costume and make-up at the city council building - in the extracurricular education office. Along with one of the teachers i work with, Antonio (his wife is the director of the department, so he was obliged to volunteer for the job) and another woman....we all piled on the costumes, royal robes, gloves, rings, wigs, beards, gaudy rings, and of course the crown. Meanwhile I was trying to fill in the complete blank slate that is my knowledge of the three kings. "What are the names of the kings?" "Which one am I?" "Did I bring frankincense, gold or myrhh?" "Do they say anything special - like how Santa says Ho Ho Ho?" I was the brown-haired one, Gaspar, who brought the frankincense. And they encouraged me that I would be even more convincing because with my accent it would seem as if I had really come from the Orient.
So trying not to trip over my robe that was about 8 inches too long, and seeing where I was going in the fine slit between the shaggy moptop of brown wig and the beard and mustache getup that was attached - I hopped into the city council van. I meet the director of education, the mayor and many more people along the way.
And then we arrived. Now, my vision before we got there was that we would walk around to the classrooms for a few minutes with a bag of candy and say Feliz Navidad. No no no. Silly me. There is the big production of the Nativity Play, and then every class sings a prepared christmas carol.. and then the Reyes Magos arrive. Grand entrance, very serious - with eyes of the entire school, students, teachers, parents and hundreds of cameras - all on you. So we walk slowly like a processional to the stage, where there are 3 thrones ready for each of us. We wave royally, befopre sitting. And at the first school they decided to do an interview with the three kings!! My heart jumped - what if i didnt understand? or i didnt know the answer, with my rough draft understanding of the biblical history of it all. But I sailed through the interview, and it was time for the kids: Every single child climbed right up onto the stage and SAT ON MY LAP - santa claus style. I follwed suit with what the others were doing and lifted them up onto my knee. I asked them: "Has sido bueno este ano?" "Have you been good this year?" "What do you want for christmas?" And some had a little present, so I would know their name when they approached me. That really frightened the little ones. And there were a few that I couldnt read, or it was the wrong present - so I had to make something up like "Why, my goodness, you have grown so much this past year I didnt even recognize you! Of course you are not Juan, you are Jose!" If I didnt know their name I would fill in with the common playful nicknames here such as Guapa, Senorita, etc. There was a hush in the crowd when I hoisted one kid onto my knee and somehow my crown went flying off with a clatter on the ground. Keeps you on your toes, to say the least. All the while, you are also trying to make sure the kid turns around so that the parents that are all elbowing each other in the back of the crowd can get a good picture of their little one on the Rey's lap.
Well, one school down. Two to go. . . . And 5 hours later I was a pro Gaspar. I could hold my head up regally without worrying that my crown would slip off, and could just sweep the kids off the ground and into my lap. I must have seen hundreds and hundreds of children that morning, mostly ages 3, 4 & 5. Every one had written a letter to one of the Kings, telling them what they wanted for christmas to which I responded "Thank you. I can't wait to read it." And most kids had a favorite king too. The last school was a very catholic school that is taught by nuns, but in true Spainish style - it is still public. I was eager to see what these nuns were all about. Conservative? In black? Strict? They turned out to be the hippest of them all, dressed in everyday clothes and invited us to drink a licorice liquor afterwards. Nuns drinking!
A quick change back to reality. We hung up the robes and wigs - until next year. And I walked home without any turning of heads or salutes to the Three Kings. I continued on, and almost to work I spotted one of the girls that had sat on my lap just a few hours before - walking home with her parents. I expected her to turn any second and wave or cheer. But she didnt. I was just another passerby on the street. And this was just another day in Ronda.
