USA: Three Wise Men lead parade through Spanish Harlem in New York

Record ID: 449728

  • Title: USA: Three Wise Men lead parade through Spanish Harlem in New York
  • Date: 7th January 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 6, 2011) (REUTERS) START OF THE THREE KINGS PARADE VARIOUS OF GIANT PAPIER-MÂCHÉ EFFIGIES OF THREE KINGS LEADING PARADE CROWNED CHILDREN WATCHING PARADE MORE OF GIANT KINGS CHILDREN MARCHING IN PARADE HONORARY KING JULIAN ZUGAZAGOITIA TALKING TO CHILDREN IN PARADE (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONORARY KING AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO, JULIAN ZUGAZAGOITIA, SAYING "You know, it continues to grow year after year. And what's amazing is it grows because not only the Hispanic culture, Latino culture becomes more embraced by all of us, and also Latinos are growing. So it is a testament to Museo del Barrio's 34 years of commitment to bringing these traditions that today is embraced by everyone, Latinos and non-Latinos alike. That is what we're seeing. Today we have more than 5,000 people parading with us, which is amazing." VARIOUS OF THE SOUL TIGERS MARCHING BAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOARD MEMBER OF EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO, FELIX LOPEZ, SAYING "I don't know how many, there's more bands than ever. There are more. . . it's more diverse than ever. The entire community is now participating. The community itself is diverse. It's Mexican. It's Puerto Rican. It's Dominican. It's African-American. It's increasingly white, and all those people are here today participating in the parade. So it's really quite wonderful to see. The community has really sort of taken to the parade and adopted it." CROWNED CHILDREN WATCHING PARADE PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF PARADE CROWNED TROUPE OF YOUNG DRUMMERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUSTAVO, PARADE WATCHER, SAYING "I mean it's good for the community and to teach the kids about the culture and to push forward beliefs that we carry on." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED PARADE WATCHER SAYING "Very wonderful, yes. We enjoyed this parade." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUISA, PARADE WATCHER, SAYING "Oh it was wonderful and the kids really loved it. He was so excited about the camels. . . mostly about the camels. He was very happy." CHILDREN WATCHING CAMELS VARIOUS OF THREE CAMELS OF THE KINGS ONE OF THE GIANT KINGS
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAAO0OZ160JEX2TYCN4L3Y8OS8W
  • Story Text: At the end of the Twelfth Night the Three Kings marched through Spanish Harlem on Thursday (January 6) to celebrate the Epiphany.
    Over 5,000 residents, mostly school children, wound their way along the streets of New York's upper East Side in the 34th annual Three Kings Day Parade organized by El Museo del Barrio.
    Three "honorary kings" led the parade, followed by three giant puppets of the Magi accompanied by a myriad of bands and musical acts before the three camels which carried the Wise Men finished the procession.
    "It continues to grow year after year. And what's amazing is it grows because not only the Hispanic culture, Latino culture becomes more embraced by all of us, and also Latinos are growing," explained Julian Zugazagoitia, once of the honorary kings and a former director of El Museo.
    "It is a testament to Museo del Barrio's 34 years of commitment to bringing these traditions that today is embraced by everyone, Latinos and non-Latinos alike. That is what we're seeing. Today we have more than 5,000 people parading with us, which is amazing," Zugazagoitia added.
    The area of Manhattan, traditionally known has Spanish Harlem or El Barrio, has strong roots in Puerto Rico, where Epiphany is often more festive than Christmas. Today, though the Latin roots remain as strong as ever, the community contains even more cultural influences.
    "It's more diverse than ever," said Felix Lopez, board member of El Museo.
    "The entire community is now participating. The community itself is diverse. It's Mexican. It's Puerto Rican. It's Dominican. It's African-American. It's increasingly white, and all those people are here today participating in the parade. So it's really quite wonderful to see."
    At the parade's terminus, El Museo del Barrio, all of the children who participated lined up outside the museum to receive a present, as is tradition on Epiphany. But for most of the children that wasn't the highlight of the day.
    "It was wonderful and the kids really loved it. He was so excited about the camels. . . mostly about the camels. He was very happy," explained Louisa, who carried another little parade watcher on her shoulders all morning.
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