I happened to be lucky enough to book my tickets over this holiday in Madrid (i'll be there the 3-10 of january), i've read that the festivities are quite large especially in such a big city, however i'm wondering what exactly I should expect, as well as any local customs I should follow (i'm staying with friends, so really anything appropriate for people who are 19-25 to do around/on this holiday)

You could find very big parties during Reye´s night, it's like the New Year's Eve one, with a fix price you get as many drinks as you can drink.

People eat Roscon de Reyes and receive presents.

Most people love ( I sincerely hate it) a parade where supposedly the three kings arrive with all the kids gifts. Traffic will be horrible, but your kids will enjoy it a lot.

Next day gifts are given to children, brought during the night not by Santa Claus but the kings (a.k.a. The Three Wise Men).

Important family dinner, second only to 25th Dec., and important parties in discos, second only to 31st Dec..

The parade is horrible!!!!!... but is funny and nice to look at the faces of children.

i have no children as i'm 19 and a college student, i already know of a party that i will be attending that night at a club, as cheesy as it sounds i might like to catch the parade, just to see what everything is all about

most of my vacation (really all of it) will be spent with friends... either seeing the sights/colleges in Madrid or just enjoying ourselves

¡Joé, qué mala leche tenéis! What's up with the parade??? It's great. They throw sweets! ¡Viva la cabalgata!

Oh Boqueron how long since the last time you went here in Madrid to the parade?
The last times it has been like a sponsors parade. And I still find so bad that a council man paint his face in black for Baltasar Wise Man when there're so many true black people living here now...
Anyway they still throw sweets

I went this past january to the one in Barcelona. It was really cool.It was right by the seaport across from Maremagnum. Lots of people , very colorful and with Monjuic in the background who could ask for anything more.

Miguelito wrote: Oh how true! I've seen lots of photos but have yet to witness one for myself and I believe that Ronald McDonald is a constant in that parade and countless floats showing off their placards, billboards, and banners of their sponsors like Philips, Telefónica, Terra, and whatever else.

Say, what's the theme of Cortelandia this year? When I was there a couple years ago it was the "Lord of the Rings" and last year it was, who, "Harry Potter" or something.

Saludos, MadridMan