Mayor Bloomberg joined thousands of observers along Fifth Avenue between 44th and 67th Streets to watch the parade, which falls on the eve of Columbus Day, celebrated as Dia de la Raza by many in the Hispanic community.
Crowds cheered on marching bands and civic societies, pop stars and grade-schoolers paraded up the street in a glitzed-up version of traditional costumes, accompanied by pulse-pounding music.
Organizers said about 10,000 people took part in the parade, which trailed from 44th Street to 67th Street and featured floats, bands and musical groups that celebrated Latin American, Spanish and Latino culture.
Dancers' moves included the Guatemalan "baile de los moros" and the Mexican "son jarocho."
Flags from dozens of different counties lined Fifth Avenue, showing off how New York City is a true melting pot.
"You experience every part of the world, South America especially, like Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, all these groups and all these dances that you cannot see. Even if you go to a country, you will only experience one culture," said one viewer. "But you come to New York City and you can find everything."
"It is good, all Hispanic people together in the same place, it's nice," said another. "Everybody is together, they don't care where they are from."
"The costumes are amazing. I just can't say enough about it," said a third.
Paradegoers said the star of Sunday's event was the weather. Many spectators came out in shorts and T-shirts, even though it was October.
"Perfect. I know other years it has been raining, but today it is perfect. It is like 80 degrees," said one viewer.
"The climate is not too cold, not too hot. Because they have to so much exercise to show the different kind of dances for the different countries, it is just perfect," said another viewer.
While most of the country celebrates Monday as "Columbus Day," many Latinos observe the day as Día de la Raza, to commemorate the first encounters and intermixing of the African, European and Native American peoples in Latin America.
For Calderon, the diversity of the observers, as much as the countries they represent, is what makes the parade a can’t-miss event.
“[New Yorkers] don’t look at this diversity,” she said. “Diversity is what makes the world beautiful.”
Location:NYC
Comments
Post a Comment