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28 March 2024

Massive 11 tonne bread readied for traditional Mexico party

A baker cuts a traditional "rosca de Reyes" - large ring-shaped cake baked for Epiphany-, in Mexico City, on January 4, 2009. The biggest "rosca de Reyes" of the world, of 1978 meters of length, was distributed among 250.000 people at the Zocalo square in Mexico City (AFP)

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By AFP
A huge, 11-tonne (10,000 kg) bread was readied Sunday for the traditional Magi party that sees thousands of Mexican families coming together to celebrate with food and gifts for children.

"This event is important ... we will not lose our traditions" that unites families, said Laura Vazquez, Mexico's secretary for economic development.

A central part of the celebration of the nativity's three wise men revolves around baking and eating La Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread), a sweet, dry delicacy.

The bread in question, unveiled in all its glory at the central Zocalo square in Mexico City, is about 1,600 meters (one mile) long, and weighs close to 11 tonnes (10,000 kg).

It will be shared between some 200,000 people gathered to celebrate in the city center.

Around 2,300 bakers affiliated to the national baker's association (Canainpa) help bake the bread.

In all, the sweet bread used seven tonnes (6,600 kg) of flour, 3.3 tonnes (3,000 kg) of butter and 396 gallons (1,500 liters) of milk, according to Canaipa head Antonio Arias.

Families in Mexico and throughout Latin America celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, remembering the day when the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem, arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus.