Thousands of hungry Meridanos — including hundreds of eager children — gathered Tuesday Jan. 5 to consume a piece of southeast Mexico’s largest “Rosca de Reyes,” the traditional pastry for celebrating Three Kings Day.
Organizers of the event, held in Merida’s northern hotel district along Avenida Colon between Calle 60 and Paseo de Montejo, said the giant Rosca stretched for 2.5 km (1.6 miles). The pastry was laid out in three rows upon tables set up in a loop on both sides of Avenida Colon.
Merida’s Mega-Rosca stretched for 2.5 km, according to event organizers. (PHOTO: Robert Adams)
The crowd that jammed the event was composed mainly of families with young children, who eagerly savored their pieces of Rosca, had their pictures taken with the Three Kings, laughed at comedic magicians and ventriloquists and listened to mariachi music. The event, which started at 5 p.m., lasted well into the night.
Gov. Rolando Zapata Bello and Mayor Mauricio Vila Dosal were on hand to greet the crowd and sample the Rosca, which was divided into more than 25,000 pieces representing about three tons of bread.
Taking pictures with the Three Kings was a popular activity at the event. (PHOTO: Robert Adams)
Some 300 pieces contained miniature dolls, the much-sought prizes that are said to harken good fortune for the coming year.
More than 250 chefs, cooks and other personnel from Merida hotels and restaurants participated in the preparation, display and sale of the mega-Rosca, which event organizers said challenged a similar one in Mexico City’s Zocalo for honors as the country’s largest.
Proceeds from the event, which was the 20th annual celebration of a mega-Rosca in Merida, will benefit seven local charities.
No incidents were reported, but traffic on Calle 60 and Avenida Colon was disrupted for several hours starting early Tuesday afternoon.
Zapata and Vila used the occasion to tout Merida’s relative tranquility that makes such a large, family-centered event possible.
Also present were officials of the participating hotels: Fiesta Americana, Holiday Inn, El Conquistador, Hyatt Regency, Intercontinental Presidente Villa Mercedes and Wyndham.
By Robert Adams for TYT
