Three Kings to travel to Sevilla in hot-air balloon this January

ANOTHER inevitable and disappointing casualty of 'Covid Christmas' will be the absence of Three Kings' parades on the night of January 5 – although all is not entirely lost, as town halls are getting creative to make sure the children can still soak up some of the festive magic.

Sevilla has opted to bring in the Magi by hot-air balloon, since this way, they will have no close contact with anyone on the street.

The city council will stream their airborne arrival live on its Ateneo website.

Even present lists have gone digital: This year, instead of children handwriting letters to the Three Kings and giving them to the Pages in person when they visit towns ahead of the 'big night', youngsters in Sevilla will be able to send their missives via the Ateneo portal.

And the Three Kings have pledged to respond to every single one.

For children who are too young to use email, or who simply prefer to write their lists down on paper, they can deposit them in person in a collection point in the Ateneo patio on the C/ Orfila between Boxing Day and December 29.

Bedouins – desert tribes who would be among the Magi's neighbours – will be on site so the children can see for themselves that someone will be able to gather up and deliver the letters to base.

Balthazar, Melchior and Casper will 'balloon' into Sevilla from 09.00 on January 4 and 5, in different neighbourhoods. 

It is likely that almost every town and village in Spain will devise an 'alternative' Three Kings' visit – given that parades are nearly all cancelled – rather than let the little ones go without their usual gift-bearers at the start of 2021.