january 6th is the epiphany (dia de reis) - a roman catholic holiday celebrated 12 days after christmas which marks the arrival of the three magi or wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby jesus christ.

around the world it is often the unofficial starting of carnival season which culminates with mardi gras.

january 6th officially closes the christmas festivities with the twelfth night celebrations -  throughout rio, small parades dramatize the pilgrimage of the  three kings, melchior, gaspar and balthasar.

also on the 6th is the taking down of the world's largest floating christmas tree in the rodrigo de freitas lagoon, and the start of the long wait until the weekend before ash wednesday and the start of the world's largest carnival.