Despite the fact that the bad weather had played some tricks on the tacoronteros during the celebrations in honor of San isidro labradorthis Sunday the patron saint of farmers and ranchers brought good luck to the people gathered to celebrate their pilgrimage in the surroundings of the St. Catherine’s Church.
Throughout the morning the sky remained dark and the occasional drop of water made its appearance, but it was enough for the image of the saint to leave the temple after the celebration of a Eucharist in his honor for the sky of this northern town to will clear Summer came suddenly to the rhythm of the drums of the dancers from El Hierro who accompanied the saint on his exciting exit from the church.
The Tacoronte pilgrimage celebrated its 31st edition this year, but the mayor of the town, Daniel Diaz, boasted that it is one of the oldest of the Islands. “What happens is that it was a decade without being celebrated,” she said. “Time has forgiven us today. Last Friday we had to move the magician’s ball to next week, but we have done the rest of the acts and they have been a complete success », she celebrated. In Tacoronte there was a desire to party. As in many other locations, this year’s celebrations are the first after the pandemic forced the cancellation of almost any type of event. “There is a lot of fervor for San Isidro in our municipality precisely because of the rich agricultural and livestock tradition that we have,” added the mayor.
The surroundings of Santa Catalina recovered the festive atmosphere. There was no lack of traditional turroneras and other street vendors. The entire area, from The Alhondiga The square that surrounds the recently restored temple was visited in the colors of the Canarian flag. Many of the homes also decked out balconies and patios to welcome friends and family.
Animals –goats, sheep and of course cows– were the other protagonists of the morning. Guided by their owners, they paraded before the saint to be blessed by the priest, who poured holy water over them.
best suits
Among the best dressed attendees were Carmen and Carmelo, from Candelaria. “We really go to all the pilgrimages we can because we love traditions.” In fact, they are not even sure how many typical costumes they currently store at home. “We have a chest full,” said Carmen. “There may be more than twenty, for sure,” Carmelo added. On this occasion she was wearing a peasant outfit from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and he was dressed as a butler from Garachico.
Likewise, and how could it be otherwise, from the carts participating in the procession, wine from the country, meat, bread and the traditional stewed eggs were distributed to all the visitors.
At the end of the festive tour there was also space for the party with the groups that enlivened the verbena outside the church of Santa Catalina.
