More of 15,000 people walked yesterday the main streets of The lagoon to be part of the Pilgrimage of San Benito Abad, after the two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Despite the high temperatures, thousands of pilgrims and pilgrims enjoyed the walk accompanied by various folk groups, more than fifty carts and carts and the image of the saint, who came out of his church to celebrate this 75th anniversary. The happy faces of thousands of lagoon residents were evident, who, after such a long parenthesis, returned to celebrate this traditional pilgrimage, undoubtedly one of the reasons for pride in the city.
The festive day started very early, at 07:30 am, with the first Eucharist, and then gave way to the blessing of bread and the offering of traditional products from the eight islands. It was just after 12:00 when the colored ribbons and the saint began the march from the square, followed by the mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres; and the president of the autonomous Parliament, Gustavo Matos, together with other public administration positions.
At the exit of the church, the mayor Luis Yeray Gutierrez He stressed that, “finally, we are here, after two long years of waiting, to enjoy our tradition, history and culture; an appointment that each year is more valued by the lagoon men and women and that is the only pilgrimage in the Archipelago with that distinction of a regional nature”. The local councilor added that the “love” that the neighbors dedicate to these dates “is evident on this big day” and showed his enthusiasm for “being able to walk the streets of La Laguna again, which has become precious for the occasion, in the company of citizens and San Benito”.
In similar terms, the president of the regional government expressed himself, who highlighted the importance of this celebration, “Well of Tourist Interest and that this edition celebrates 75 years”. Ángel Víctor Torres affirmed that it is a holiday not only for the municipality, but also “for the Canary Islands as a whole”, due to its regional character, and he was “delighted” to participate “in this magnificent offering, which has a great tradition , with the joy in addition to being able to do it without masks and touching that great normality that we longed for ”.
For his part, Gustavo Matos pointed out that, “as a lagoon resident, this day is very important and very special. After a few years without being able to celebrate it, today is a big day for La Laguna and the Canary Islands”.
The Councilor for Fiestas, Badel Albelo, also expressed his “happiness to meet again on the street” and highlighted the success achieved in this edition, “not only in terms of participation, but also because of the coexistence created”.
Among the novelties on the occasion of the 75th anniversary, is the collaboration of the Historical-Cultural Gesta Association of July 25, 1797, which offered a recreation of the appearance of the first pilgrimage boats in Tenerife in the same corner where everything It happened (current Plaza de la Catedral with Calle La Carrera) on the eve of the festivity of Our Lady of Remedies (322 years ago).
