The lagoon yesterday was a celebration with the commemoration of the 526th anniversary of the founding of the city, as well as the day of its patron Saint Cristóbal, who toured the main streets of the Casco yesterday afternoon after two years without being able to leave the procession due to to health restrictions due to the pandemic.
Specifically, the founding festivity started at 7:00 p.m. with the solemn religious function in the Cathedral of La Laguna, officiated by the bishop of the Nivariense Diocese, Bernardo Álvarez. Later, around 8:00 p.m., the image and her entourage left the temple and passed in procession through the central streets of La Carrera, Núñez de la Peña and San Juan, and then returned to the Cathedral.
By tradition, the date taken as a reference regarding the foundation of the city is July 27, 1496, at the end of the conquest of Tenerife by the troops commanded by Alonso Fernández de Lugo, later named Adelantado. However, it is in 1497 when the Council of the island of Tenerife is officially constituted in the city.
It is believed that the conversion of Saint Christopher (born in Sidon or Tire in the first half of the third century AD) took place in the region of Lycia and there he began to transport travelers to wade the river until one day he saw a child in the bank; and having asked him what he wanted, the boy replied that he should take him to the other shore. Taking him on his shoulder, he felt a great weight and asking the child, he told him that he had finally found his Lord and that on his shoulders he had carried Christ. From then on he was called Cristóbal, which means Christ bearer.
