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Three Kings Day Lights Up East Harlem

By Tuan Nguyen | January 6, 2012 4:22pm
The traditional Epiphany or Three Kings day, which is especially popular in the Latin America, commemorates the Three Wise Men coming to visit Jesus after his birth.
The traditional Epiphany or Three Kings day, which is especially popular in the Latin America, commemorates the Three Wise Men coming to visit Jesus after his birth.
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DNAinfo/Tuan Nguyen

EAST HARLEM — Hundreds of kids, some clad with kingly crowns and capes, lined East Harlem's streets Friday morning for the 35th annual Three Kings Day parade.

The parade, which was organized by El Museo del Barrio, commemorates the Three Wise Men visiting the infant Jesus as told in the Bible, and featured live camels, costumed school kids and a trio of 12-foot-tall Magi puppets.

“Three Kings Day is mainly for the kids but it’s also the day for the whole community to participate,” said Cornelia Chisolm, a pre-K teacher from the East River Children's Center, who lead roughly 10 students to watch the parade. “The kids have been so excited the last week. They spent time making the crowns, decorating to prepare for today."

The parade winds its way along East 106th Street from Madison to Third Avenues, then turns up Third to East 115th Street before turning again and ending at Park Avenue.

“It’s a beautiful tradition and a great chance for us to teach the children about the meaning of the festival,” said Karla Hernandez, 31, teacher from La Guardia House Nursery. Hernandez said she takes children from the school to the parade every year.