BY EUNICE PONCE AND ANA ACLE

 For the first time in his young life, Elian Gonzalez on Sunday celebrated the
 Hispanic version of Christmas: the feast of the Three Kings.

 ''He's only been here for two months,'' said Delfin Gonzalez, his great-uncle.
 ''So this is his first Three Kings parade. In Cuba they don't have that.''

 ''Even adults get emotional over this parade,'' he added. ''So, can you imagine
 what it's like for a little boy who's never seen anything like it?''

 The event, like so many religious celebrations, was banned in Cuba nearly
 30 years ago by Fidel Castro.

 But the Christian tradition continues in Spain and Latin America. It marks the
 historic account of the three wise men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and
 myrrh to the newborn Jesus.

 Although Elian didn't participate in the parade, he commanded the attention of
 bystanders, politicians and celebrities, including parade grand marshal Orlando
 ''El Duque'' Hernandez.

 Hernandez, a New York Yankees pitcher and 1999 World Series most valuable
 player, got out of a Ford Mustang convertible and walked over to Elian, who sat in
 the bleachers at Southwest 17th Avenue and Calle Ocho surrounded by an
 entourage of police officers.

 ''I love you, and stay,'' Hernandez told Elian.

 To which the shy 6-year-old boy vigorously nodded his head in agreement.

 Hernandez, who also left Cuba by sea, then hugged and kissed the boy, and
 playfully touched the top of his head before returning to the parade.

 RESCUER ATTENDS

 Elian even had a float in his honor, which carried children chanting: ''Elian, friend.
 Miami is with you.'' Also on the float: Donato Dalrymple, who along with his
 cousin fished Elian from the sea on Thanksgiving Day.

 Dalrymple, an American of Italian descent, has remained close to the Gonzalez
 family.

 ''I know it was the hand of God, but I feel that I gave birth to him from the ocean,''
 Dalrymple said. ''From the moment he opened his eyes.''

 Organizers said an estimated 500,000 people attended the parade, sponsored by
 the Hispanic Broadcasting Corp.

 Milay Marquez and husband Harold Sosa, of Westchester, attended the parade
 with their two daughters, ages 5 and 1. They arrived early to get a front-row spot
 and brought parade gear: chairs, a stroller, video camera and umbrella.

 ''We come every year,'' said Marquez, who came from Cuba when she was 5. ''My
 mom always brought me and I want to continue the tradition.''

 She uses the parade as a tool to teach her children about Kings Melchior, Gaspar
 and Balthasar. ''They open the presents after they've seen the parade,'' she said.

 Symbolizing the desert journey the Magi took to Bethlehem, three camels
 lumbered down Calle Ocho led by Tim Rivers, Brandy Dickman and Pedro
 Gonzalez of Ocala-based Animals in Motion -- a sight that delighted little Elian
 and other children.

 Few problems occurred. Miami Police spokesman Angel Calzadilla said four
 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and battery on a police officer after
 they tried to get close to Elian. Paramedics ran to 13 medical emergencies,
 mostly for heat fatigue, but transported no one to the hospital.

 The international tug of war over Elian was the conversation of the day -- again.
 People spoke of Elian's fate as they devoured arepas, kebobs, sausages and fried
 plantains. Children asked whether they would see Elian on a float, and get to
 spray silly string at him.

 PILOT HONORED

 Ly Tong III, the Vietnamese-American pilot who flew a rented airplane for 12
 minutes over Havana, dropping pamphlets that advocated the overthrow of Fidel
 Castro, was hailed as a freedom fighter. Invited by the Miami chapter of the
 Vietnam Veterans Association, Tong stood in a U.S. Army jeep behind a
 .50-caliber machine gun and waved to the crowd as they cheered.

 ''This guy is really daring,'' said Conchita Antunez. ''We need more like him.''

 Antunez and her co-workers from Priscilla Beauty Salon attended the parade with
 20 relatives and grandchildren as they do each year.

 Tong was followed by a group from the Vietnamese Veterans of South Florida that
 waved ''Free Vietnam'' and ''Human Rights for Vietnam'' signs, as well as
 Vietnamese flags.

 Tong also jumped out and hugged Elian, and said before the parade: ''Congress
 should give him a chance to stay here. He will have hardship if he goes back.''

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald