Día de Reyes (Three Kings' Day)

National holiday (public holiday). Morning of gift opening (los niños abren los regalos—children open gifts left by Reyes overnight). Roscón de Reyes (Three Kings' Cake) eaten for breakfast: circular sweet brioche-like bread filled with whipped cream, truffle cream, or chocolate, decorated with candied fruits (cristalizadas—orange, lemon, cherry, fig). Hidden inside: small figurine of a king (rey) and a dried fava bean (haba). Whoever finds the king figurine becomes "king for the day" and wears paper crown (crown included in roscón box). Whoever finds the fava bean must pay for next year's roscón (or buy the roscón next year). Tradition: "Roscones de Reyes" sold at bakeries (pastelerías) starting December 30, but sold out by January 5. Cabalgata hangover: children exhausted from previous night's parade watching, families eat roscón for late breakfast (11am-1pm). Many businesses closed (banks, post office, government offices, schools), but restaurants and tourist attractions open. Day marked by "Valija Real" (Royal Mailbox) in major cities where children dropped letters to Reyes Magos in December; January 6 morning, mailboxes are emptied and "answered" (children receive letter from Reyes Magos thanking them for their good behavior)