- Title: BOLIVIA-CHRISTMAS/PARADE Christmas parade marches through La Paz
- Date: 29th November 2014
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (NOVEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARADE, SHOWING TOYS SALES PEOPLE DRESSED AS SNOWMEN AND WALKING DOWN THE STREET FLOAT PASSING BY IN PARADE ELDERLY WOMAN DRESSED AS A FAIRY GODMOTHER WALKING BETWEEN WOMEN IN SANTA DRESSES GENERAL OF WOMEN DRESSED AS MRS. CLAUS MARCHING IN PARADE SIGN THAT READS: HUARINA (TOWN) WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN DRESSED AS CHRISTMAS TREES MARCHING AND YELLING "MERRY CHRISTMAS" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) IRENE MAYTA, VENDOR DRESSED AS A CHRISTMAS TREE, SAYING: "Christmas is part of God where we should reflect a lot and learn to forgive and everything." MAN DRESSED AS SANTA CLAUS GIVING CANDY TO CHILDREN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN COSTUME MARCHING IN PARADE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELSA VARGAS, CHRISTMAS VENDOR, SAYING: "That the whole family is happily united and there is no more violence and we can all care for each other as human beings. I ask that we all be happy during this Christmas season and that this year would be a great Christmas." VARIOUS OF VENDORS DRESSED AS MRS. CLAUS MOTHER WITH HER CHILDREN DRESSED AS PRESENTS PERSON DRESSED AS THE GRINCH DANCING AROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EDSON QUISPE, VENDOR DRESSED AS THE GRINCH, SAYING: "I used to not believe in Christmas, but now I see that the children believe in Christmas. I now believe in Christmas and you should too, so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas." CHILDREN DRESSED AS SNOWMEN IN MARCH, SAYING "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
- Embargoed: 14th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADEM7E6GADMKTF7LSXFNQFRJQ2
- Story Text: Dressed as snowmen, Christmas trees, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus, some 500 people marched through the streets of La Paz on Friday (November 28) during a festive Christmas parade.
Beginning at the Palace of Government, the parade stretched for four kilometres (2.5 miles) though the city, drawing more than 10,000 spectators who lined the streets to enjoy the costumes and holiday-themed floats.
"Christmas is part of God where we should reflect a lot and learn to forgive and everything," said Irene Mayta, a holiday vendor who was dressed as a Christmas tree from head-to-toe.
The parade, which marks the beginning of the holiday commercial season, draws heavy participation from local vendors.
Elsa Vargas, one of the many participating vendors, said she hopes the season will bring families together.
"That the whole family is happily united and there is no more violence and we can all care for each other as human beings. I ask that we all be happy during this Christmas season and that this year would be a great Christmas," Vargas said.
Even the grinch showed up for the Christmas parade. Dressed as the grumpy green character created by Dr. Seuss, resident Edson Quispe portrayed the creature during the celebration.
"I used to not believe in Christmas, but now I see that the children believe in Christmas. I now believe in Christmas and you should too, so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas," Quispe said.
Bolivia is a predominantly Catholic country, and its Christmas traditions have a distinct Andean spirit, which can be seen with the "cholita" indigenous woman and Andean animals used in decorations; for instance, in the Nativity scene. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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