Three Kings come from Italian city of Arezzo to Rome
January 05, 2013: On Sunday 6 January, Via della Conciliazione in Rome, will witness
the 28th edition of the historical and folkloric Parade called ‘Viva la
Befana’ - to reaffirm and pass on the values of the Epiphany or manifestation of
Jesus Christ, a press release revealed on Saturday. This year, the Three Kings,
in the now customary turnover of the people chosen to be featured in the parade, come
to Rome from the city of Arezzo and its valleys. The parade will feature fifteen hundred
participants, including musicians and flag bearers, twenty-five horses in their colorful
trappings, and dozens of band sets. After the Angelus, the Three Wise Men, as usual,
will reach the Papal Household, to give symbolic gifts of the region to Pope Benedict
XVI. They include the three silver hand-made chalices by the artisan goldsmith, Great
Dane Maffucci, representing the faith, hope and charity, which are celebrated in the
Eucharist. The costumes of the participants, one of the Magi signed by an award-winning
Oscars for cinematography, are all of great value and will be used to tailor make
a precious fabric of cultural stimuli that will enrich the many re-enactments of historical
events and episodes of the Territory. Hard work, creativity and wealth of traditions
will be highlighted in scenes of everyday life, to represent history, culture and
folklore traditions of the places of protagonists of this year’s edition. During
the parade there will be the traditional ceremony of welcome, during which Alessandro
Vannini Scatoli, representing the Mayor of Rome, Alemanno and Antonella De Giusti,
President of the XVII Hall, will officially welcome to Roman territory the Mayor of
Arezzo, Giuseppe Fanfani and his fellow citizens, participating in the historic event,
exchanging with them symbolic gifts. The ceremony has always represented by peace,
solidarity and brotherhood among peoples: the most beautiful gifts for Epiphany, added
the Press note. This historic event, is sponsored by Europæ FAMI.LI.A (Famiglie
Libere Associate d’Europa) and was created in 1985 to help re-introduce the feast
of the Epiphany on the civil calendar and then repeats regularly every year. The
event is organized with the voluntary help of dozens of families, clubs, schools.
It is considered the largest and most important event for the Epiphany, attend every
year, by tens of thousands of spectators.