A large procession was attended by a historical reenactment group, children, young people and residents of Bolesławiec. The route led along the main streets of the city centre, from the church at Zamkowy Square to the Basilica in the Market Square.
Today’s mass form of celebrating, with costumes, communal singing and a symbolically recreated procession, only began to develop more strongly in Poland in the 21st century. Inspiration can be sought in the “rotten” West, as Western European cultural influences are sometimes described jokingly or ironically.
The oldest European parades in honour of the Three Kings—the so-called Cabalgata de Reyes—have been held in Spain since the 19th century. It was there that the spectacular procession of the Magi was—and still is—particularly popular, especially on the eve of the feast, 5 January. In this sense, Spain provided, to some extent, a model for the colourful processions that inspired later events in other countries.
The Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany) is one of the oldest Christian feasts, celebrated in the Catholic Church on 6 January. It commemorates the revelation of Jesus Christ to the Magi from the East, traditionally presented as three kings: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. On this day, the faithful traditionally mark the doors of their homes with the initials K+M+B, referring to the names of the Magi or to the Latin blessing “Christus Mansionem Benedicat”.