New York celebrates ‘Three Kings Day’ with children, animals
Published: January 7, 2006
It’s called the “Three Kings Day Parade,” but in reality there were many little kings.
Hundreds of young children marched through East Harlem on Friday to celebrate the Christian feast of Epiphany, when the divine nature of Jesus Christ is said to have been announced to the world.
Many of the children wore handmade crowns _ cardboard, cloth, aluminum foil, you name it _ to symbolize the three kings who visited the baby Jesus in a Bethlehem manger and presented him with gifts. They were joined by hundreds of adults and countless onlookers, some in costume, as well as three camels, five sheep and two donkeys.
“It’s cool. I’ve never seen a camel before,” said Angel Colon, 7, who clicked away on a disposable camera as the procession marched up Third Avenue between 106th and 116th streets.
Other children simply stared in awe at the animals, too amazed to speak.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Charles Rangel and other political leaders led the boisterous march through the heavily Hispanic neighborhood. Behind them followed papier-m Fach De models of the kings and one main float that blared dance-inducing music. Bloomberg wore a green tie for the occasion, explaining that the color “symbolized Christmas.”
The Epiphany or Three Kings Day, also called Dia de Reyes in Spanish, is celebrated throughout the United States and Latin America, as well as Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Many of the children participating Friday had left food for the camels the night before, a tradition similar to leaving cookies for Santa Claus.
“I gave the camels water, notes and grass,” said Yanixa Crespo, 6, of Yonkers. She said the parade was “fun, because the three kings are here and all the animals.”
The day is about gift getting as well.
About 1,600 children had registered to visit the El Museo del Barrio, the Fifth Avenue museum that sponsored the parade, on Friday afternoon.
Books, stuffed animals, dolls and other toys as well as a theater presentation awaited the eager youngsters.
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