Spain Christian traditions: Driekoningen thumb|Children celebrating Driekoningen in Amsterdam in 1958 On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, European children traditionally went door to door in threes wearing paper crowns (to commemorate the Biblical Magi), carrying a lantern and singing songs. They are dressed in adult clothing (to commemorate the Massacre of the Innocents) and one of the three may be in blackface to depict Balthazar. Such a display in Madrid in 2014 led to widespread discussions and to petitions calling for an end to the blackface practice, and to have Balthazar portrayed by a person of color.
spain christian traditions driekoningen thumb|children celebrating driekoningen in amsterdam in 1958 on the eve of the feast of the epiphany european children traditionally went door to door in threes wearing paper crowns (to commemorate the biblical magi) carrying a lantern and singing songs they are dressed in adult clothing (to commemorate the massacre of the innocents) and one of the three may be in blackface to depict balthazar such a display in madrid in 2014 led to widespread discussions and to petitions calling for an end to the blackface practice and to have balthazar portrayed by a person of color