Ramon Farriol told us that it was from 1942 that the festival took on a popular character as we know it today: the kings on horseback distributing toys from house to house and the children pulling the rope from the lighted balconies, in order to locate the house where the packages had to be left (since the street lighting was very scarce).

Anton Adserias states in Pont de Fusta and Costumari popular that "in 1944... the White, Joan Morell Jansà; the Red, Esteve Graset Ferrando and the Black, Ramon Farriol Clavé;... the truck belonged to Anton Anfrons (Antonet de l'Auto)...". The same author comments that the Pastorets that were held every year at the Catholic Center collected toys for the children of needy families and distributed them during the Three Kings procession.

In 1947 the Kings were Ramon Farriol, Joan Graset and Josep M. Boquera. Esteve Pujals, “the Belgian”, also acted as King around these years. Esteve Aragonès Nogués states that Antonet Clavé Samsó, Pepito Cantí and Josep M. Badia also acted as Kings. The packages went in the Tardiu truck, which was fitted out at the Mas de Miret. Since there were few packages, they all went inside the vehicle's box and were covered by the fittings. The Centre Catòlic society took care of the costumes and the wigs were rented.

Josep M. Boquera tells us that already in these years, possibly in 1947, the City Council began to give gifts to poor children. He recalls with emotion that they brought a gift to a couple who lived in poverty by begging for charity: “Mrs. Maria from the poor house, at the end of Monterols Street, cried with joy by the fire, hugging her husband, when she saw the gift brought by the kings”.

Rosita Clavé comments that some years the counts gave permission to prepare the packages at the Castle; and that the first year that women collaborated and distributed them was around 1955.

One year, Josep M. Farriol organized the Three Kings at Mas de Palano, at the far west of La Formiga, on the Valencia road, east of the Quatre Carreteres, near the Mine and the Camí de la Mina del Salvat. Esteve Aragonès also says that in 1958 (almost certainly), the cavalcade took place on the 6th in the morning because it had rained the night before. But on this Epiphany morning, a memorable duplicity occurred: the Las Vegas members had organized their own Three Kings and distributed the toys to the children in their organization. Total: 6 Kings in the village, at the same time.

In the early 70s it also rained and they made the distribution on January 6th.

Some years, the Kings from the balcony of the City Hall spoke "foreign". It was an improvised and invented language that no one understood, neither children nor adults. Right there on the balcony was the priest (Father Lluís Batlle) who, once the speech was finished, gave his almost simultaneous translation, absolutely personal, also invented, interested and using the form of a clerical sermon.

On January 5th the party was held in Vila-seca and on the 6th we went to Salou and the
Villablanca sanatorium.

A few years ago, a cable was installed that went from the bell tower to the abbey, through which an illuminated star would slide as the kings entered the square.

The itinerary of the royal procession varied: from the Camí de Reus to the Plaça de l'Església, the first year; later, from the Hort del Pep (Galceran de Pinós street, next to the station) also to the Plaça de l'Església. The trailers arrived at the square via the Carrer Major until the descent of the City Hall, turned around at the Plaça Sant Antoni and went up again.

And so for many years the same route was always taken. On St. Stephen's Day, royal messengers come to personally collect the children's letters; these messengers also warn the population of the arrival of the Kings before the procession.

Originally this event was held in the Plaça de l'Església until 2011 when it was moved to the castle. Until 1989 the leader of the group was Jesús Badia, who always had the collaboration of many people from the town. Thus, we see how from 1980 onwards Jordi and Josep Morell Clavé and Xavier Xatruch played the role of kings. Also until 1989 Jordi Badia, Ramon and Sisco Cardona Ballvè, Jaume Morell, Jordi Seritjol, Josep Pijoan and Demetri Sendra took part.

In 1991, a compromise situation occurred because a few days before the celebration, the group that had done it in the previous two years withdrew and it was Jordi Seritjol who offered himself to the City Council to organize the party.

From 92 onwards, Josep Pijoan was the head of the group of organizers of the Three Kings Festival. Some of the kings and pages of those years were: Xavier Vázquez, Josep Anton Garcia, Josep Pijoan, Jordi Seritjol, Oleguer Roigé, the brothers Sergi and Lluís Rufin, Jordi Purqueras, Marta Castaño, Andreu Graset, Josep R. Martínez Piñol, Miquel Lafont.

At the beginning of this period each king was accompanied by a page on horseback and a messenger, seven pages on foot and two assistants in each carriage. Over the years this increased from about twenty-five collaborators to about sixty at the end.

In 1992, 370 packages were distributed and by the end of this period, there were already a thousand. There was always a single distribution route. The trailers with the gifts were parked in different spaces: a refrigerated warehouse that was next to Avinguda Ramon d'Olzina, the Fruites Tarragona warehouse, and the Jaume Morell warehouse. The tractors were owned by individuals and the Agricultural Union.

There were three tractors, one for each King, plus the coal one. The dressing material and clothing were kept in the Municipal Brigade warehouse, in a container and in some years in the Library's premises. The preparation and decoration of the trailers began in October, and more intensively from November. At the same time, those who had to ride horses, kings or pages, went to do some riding practice in order to be well prepared for the big day. The horses for the cavalcade were rented from Diverti Park, Fontscaldes, Ambrosio and Hermanos Santiago.

The prices of the packages in pesetas were: 200, 500, 800, depending on the size; 1200, for ovens, bicycles, televisions, ...

In 1995 or 1996, the Kings' Commission was formed and statutes were registered to protect participants from problems with the horses and the distribution. In 2001, the statutes were legalized.

Of this period, it is worth highlighting the arrival of the Three Kings by helicopter, in La Pineda, in 2000 or 2001; and in antique cars, in Vila-seca. The pages in charge of collecting the children's letters also arrived at Parc de la Riera by helicopter on the 26th.

Until then, the traditional route of the cavalcade was from Galceran de Pinós Street, Comte del Comte de Sicart Street, Major Street, to the Church Square. This year, the arrival was via Ramon d'Olzina Avenue, Riera Street, Font Street, and Church Square. The White King rode in a red car; the Red King rode in a blue car; and the Black King rode in a beige car. There was only one route for distribution and this ended around midnight.

In 2001, it was the first time that there were female pageboys on horseback: Montse Vázquez and Eulàlia Marc; in 2002, Marta Castaño also took part. From 2003, a new team was chosen to coordinate the festival, chaired by Montse Vázquez.

Until 2007, the distribution was done on a single route, the entire procession went at the same time; this year three routes are being organized to make three simultaneous distributions and thus reach the children's homes sooner. Old town and Colomí neighborhood; La Formiga neighborhood and Miramar neighborhood; Les Illes neighborhood, El Castell and part of the area near the Escola Mestral. In 2008, the Vila-seca Three Kings Association was established as a non-profit entity with the sole objective of organizing the traditional Three Kings procession.

At this time, the entourage was expanded. The number of collaborators of the kings is more than sixty volunteers, structured as follows: 3 kings, 3 messengers, 6 pages on horseback, 3 chest carriers, 10 pages on foot, 6 cart pages, 2 coal carriers, 3 horse carriers, 20 collaborators, 1 person responsible for the parcel book.

The scenography of the cavalcade is planned and rehearsed a few days before the festival, and the elements that we have previously mentioned are involved. In 2012, a new board was formed headed by Marc Lorenzo. During these years, it has been seen how the population has turned out in a massive way to participate in the festival. Thus, it went from 800 packages in 2010 to 1700 in 2019.

Also in these years, a costume renovation took place: in 2015, the costumes of the coal horse troupe were made; in 2016, those of the foot pages and coal miners, and finally, in 2017, the new costumes of the kings were made.

The first Mapping was carried out in the Church Square and later moved to the Castle gardens. The adoration scene, organized by the Esbart Dansaire Ramon d'Olzina, was also performed there. Once the kings have adored the child, the mapping begins on the facade of the Castle and the parliaments of authorities and Kings are linked to the mapping; the Commission participates in finding the theme.

The festival's budget has always been borne by the City Council. The organizers, formed as an entity or volunteers, have administered these financial contributions in order to create the festival.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bible Ed. ALPHA SA/ Catalan Bible Foundation. Barcelona 1968.

RODRÍGUEZ, Pepe. Myths and rites of Christmas. Origin and meaning of Christmas celebrations. Editions BSA Barcelona 1998.
CAPMANY, Aureli. Catalan customs and traditions. Editorial Laia. Barcelona 1982.

AMADES, Joan. Catalan Customs. Volume I, Winter. Salvat EditorsS.A./Edicions 62 SA Barcelona. Barcelona 1982
FERRÉ I ROIG, Josep Mª. Cavalcades of Kings in Tarragona. 64 years of history (1940 - 2004). Editions l'Agulla de Cultura Popular. 2004 Tarragona. Ed El Mèdol - REBOLL0 SÁNCHEZ, Alexandre. More than a century of excitement. The Cavalcade of the Kings of the East in Montblanc. Center for Studies of the Barberà Basin. 134- Bibliography:- -Anton Adserias Palau. The Wooden Bridge no. 161, (1993) p. 27 and El Pont de Fusta no. 238, (1999), page 31

Anton Adserias Palau. Popular custom, (2004), page. 95 and page 149