Becoming a Three Wise Men helper in Barcelona is a unique commitment, as final preparations for the grand parade are underway at Fira de Montjuïc.
The process to Becoming a Three Wise Men Helper
The trusted advisor to Their Majesties from the East observed a flurry of activity in Hall number 7 on Avenida Maria Cristina.
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Dancers were memorising their routines, carpenters were finishing new floats, and tailors were trimming loose threads. And that’s not all. Around 1,300 volunteers will participate in the grand parade this Monday in some capacity. However, among them, 536 are ordinary residents who are prepared to arrive at the meeting point five hours before the floats even start rolling. Meanwhile, they want to be part of this unique exercise in collective joy. Additionally, their dedication is remarkable. You have to sign up for the parade months in advance, but you aren’t always selected. In fact, it can take several attempts to get a significant role.
Volunteer Dedication and Student Involvement
In your first few years as a Three Wise Men helper, you mainly ensure that nobody gets too close to the wheels of the floats. But with time, you might be allowed to collect last-minute letters. However, it means you can interact much more with the wide-eyed children, even acting important. Even so, in Hall number 7 on Avenida Maria Cristina, where you have to arrive five hours before the parade begins, it’s cold. Meanwhile, they do give you all the hot broth you want, either chicken or vegetarian.
Underneath the costume you can wrap up as much as you like, but not on top. And there in Hall 7, you get your make-up and costume done, and they check that everything is in order. However, because there are so many volunteers, everything requires a lot of patience. What’s more, you also get thirsty. Additionally, because once the floats start moving, you can’t go to the toilet for nearly four hours. In fact, they recommend you don’t drink too much water. Also, despite all this, many of the volunteers insist on returning year after year.
Some have been signing up for 20 years. This year, the oldest is 78 years old, and the youngest is eight. However, the dedication is amazing. The Three Wise Men parade also relies on the commitment of more than 600 performing arts students from the city. The parade has always been presented to them as a very special lesson. It’s seen as a wonderful opportunity to perform in front of thousands of people. After all, no other show in Barcelona gathers so many people. Some years, it approaches a million visitors. Meanwhile, la Vanguardia reports on the effort put in.
New Floats, Arrival Details, and Lasting Tradition
There are other intricacies to this 1.2-kilometre spectacle. Like every year, it includes a few new additions. This year, there will be three new floats: Baltasar’s, the Tour de France’s, and the toys’ float. The king of the most distant origins will unveil a double float with giant djembes and other African musical instruments. Live music will accompany a retinue that will also premiere four puppets about three metres tall, specifically an elephant and three giraffes.
This year’s Three Wise Men parade will also remind people that Barcelona will kick off the Tour de France this year. So, a float is dedicated to the French race. In addition, a dozen riders will perform stunts on their BMX bikes.The royal postmen will unveil five classic-inspired tandems to help them collect last-minute letters. However, the new toys’ float will resemble those old wooden trains of many colours. Meanwhile, the Barcelona City Council is organising the parade this year. Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar will arrive at Moll de la Fusta this Monday at around 4:30 pm. This year, they’ll be aboard a Golondrina boat, instead of the Santa Eulàlia passenger ship. Apparently, this is a tribute to Barcelona’s symbols.
Additionally, the budget for this year is around one million euros, roughly the same as last year. The organisation’s philosophy, under the City Council’s direction, is to evolve little by little. In fact, they incorporate modifications in each edition to keep the public interested while preserving the essence of this attraction. Also, few events in Barcelona generate as much consensus among its residents as this parade. However, their Majesties have hardly any detractors. Meanwhile, that’s unlike those controversial Nativity scenes in Plaça Sant Jaume that the government of Mayor Jaume Collboni banished to avoid public disputes. In this way, for another year, the coalmen will sing the song that made them so famous and that everyone expects: “If you haven’t behaved well.
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