FREE
ILMAINEN
GRATIS
GRATIS
GRATIS
VRIJ
THREE KINGS FUN
Catherine McGeer EVERY year throughout Spain on January 5 children line the streets on the eve of the Epiphany, also known as the feast of the Three Kings or Dia del los Reyes Magos. They gather in this age-old tradition that commemorates the journey of the Three Kings - Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar - following the star to Bethlehem to visit the newborn Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These days the Three Kings usually bring sweets and toys that they throw out to the thousands of children there to experience the parade and to welcome the kings. These parades held throughout Spain hold great importance throughout the country. While Spanish families celebrate Christmas more and more on December 24 and 25, as
FREI
The Three Kings Parade in Nerja.
their children adapt to the customs of Santa Claus, a lot of families still wait until the Three Kings’ celebrations to swap Christmas gifts. This parade kicks off the Three Kings’ celebrations after which the
children head home, eat roscon (the traditional Kings’ cake) with hot chocolate, and then get tucked into bed as they await their visit from the Kings. The Three Kings paraded through the streets
GRATUITO
G GRATIS
LIVREE
FFREE
GRATIS S
GRATUIT G
FILM HOTSPOT
Image: Facebook/Nerja Town
Axarquia • Issue No. 2010 • 11 - 17 January 2024
of Axarquia distributing toys, teddies, and sweets to awaiting children that lined the streets. They also take the time to visit children’s hospitals and senior citizen residences.
THE city of Malaga, along with Marbella and Nerja, emerged as top destinations for film shoots over the past 12 months. The Malaga Province has provided exceptional weather conditions, becoming a sought-after hub for film productions. Malaga has successfully regained its pace of film shoots that halted due to the pandemic, as confirmed by records from the Malaga Film Office and collaborating offices supporting production companies within Andalucia. While predominantly attracting local production companies, they also hosted over 20 British and several German projects. Beyond Malaga, Marbella and Nerja, have also garnered substantial attention for shoots in the past year. Nerja, in particular, captured the interest of American filmmaker Tosca Musk, sister of tech tycoon Elon Musk, who fell in love with its picturesque locations for her upcoming movie ‘Wallbanger.’ Although the film’s setting primarily lies in San Francisco and Atlanta, Nerja serves as the backdrop for the protagonists’ romantic getaway. Expressing gratitude for Nerja’s support, Musk highlighted the municipality as the ‘best location in Europe’ for filming. Scheduled for release this year, the film will reach global audiences through the streaming platform Passionflix. The Axarquía Film Commission, under the Costa del Sol Axarquía council, facilitated many of these projects, attracting attention from international production giants.
LOTTERY WIN
Image: Shutterstock/ davidxlacalle
VELEZ-MALAGA celebrated as the third prize of Spain’s ‘El Niño’ Lottery, marked by the number 57033, brought joy to the province of Malaga. Awarding €25,000 per ticket and free from taxes on its winnings, the lucky number was distributed across five local administrations. The ‘El Niño’ Lottery, held annually on January 6 on the Three Kings’ Day, follows Spain’s famous ‘El Gordo’ (The Big One) Christmas Lottery. It is known for its significant prizes and tradition of dispersing luck throughout the country to kickstart the new year. This
Velez-Malaga joy as ‘El Niño’ Lottery’s luck embraces the town.
year, the winning tickets made their way to Arroyo de la Miel (Calle Zodiac), Velez-Malaga (Calle 23 Alcalde José Herrera), as well as several locations
in the capital city, including Calle Duque de Rivas, Avenida Velázquez, and Calle Catapilco. The unexpected windfall has ignited excitement, marking
a promising beginning for the fortunate winners of Velez-Malaga and across Malaga Province, courtesy of the ‘El Niño’ Lottery’s generous draw.