PERU: Three Kings Day marked with police dressing up as wise men and distributing gifts

Record ID: 600900

  • Title: PERU: Three Kings Day marked with police dressing up as wise men and distributing gifts
  • Date: 7th January 2011
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (JANUARY 06, 2011) (REUTERS) MOUNTED POLICE ACCOMPANYING THE POLICE DRESSED AS THE THREE KINGS, ACCOMPANIED BY A POLICE BAND THE THREE KINGS AND ENTOURAGE ON HORSEBACK GOING AROUND THE STREETS OF LIMA TO HAND OUT GIFTS TO ELDERLY AND CHILDREN THREE KINGS GREETING PEOPLE THREE KINGS PASSING THOUGH THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF THE CITY THREE KINGS DELIVERING GIFTS
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Peru, Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA3X4JA3K9FSZ0KDDOZEGRV0LOX
  • Story Text: Peruvian police got into the spirit of an annual Christian festival in Lima on Thursday (January 6) by dressing up as the Three Wise Men and distributing gifts to the city's children.
    The costumed officers mounted horses and toured the city to mark Three Kings Day, which is celebrated every January 6 in Peru to mark the biblical date when wise men arrived at the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
    Accompanied by a police band, dressed in Middle Eastern costumes and attracting hundreds of followers, they made their way through Lima's historic centre, paying a special visit to homes for old people and orphans.
    One resident, Antonia Lopez, expressed her delight at the occasion.
    "I am happy because they have come dressed up. The police are dressed as the Three Kings and I have them in my heart," said Lopez.
    Children cheered as the kings handed out sweets and dished out presents inside a local church.
    A member of the National Police, Juan Polo Fernandez, was dressed at King Casper and spoke of the reaction they had received from local children.
    "A satisfaction and huge pride to see all these children of our dear Peru, to see them smile, because it is difficult to see a smile on the face of a child," said Fernandez.
    The idea of the parade is to reenact the journey the three men made to the newly born baby Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
    Hermelina Garcia, a local resident, was one of the crowd who enjoyed the family occasion.
    "It is very emotional, the first year that I am passing it with my son," said Garcia.
    Various other countries around the world, including Argentina and Spain, celebrate Three Kings Day in different ways, including baking crown-shaped cakes and children leaving grass out overnight for king's camels.
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