More than 15,000 people accompany San Benito in Aguere on his pilgrimage

Last Tuesday, the end of the health emergency that caused the appearance of COVID in 2020 was declared. the popular festivities is the one that has had the longest journey. yesterday, the LXXVII Pilgrimage of San Benito It was held in the most absolute normality, without any type of restriction in force, the first time in the last two years that this circumstance occurs. With 61 carts and 22 parties, the heat, although it was noticeable, respected the pilgrimage, even without the high temperatures that are expected to begin to occur in the Islands as of today. In addition, it was possible to enjoy the participation of three typical boats and two herds of goats and sheep.

The tour was opened by the drums of the folkloric group El Farol, the Flower Dance of Guamasa and a couple from each island of the Archipelago with the offering of typical products for San Benito. The Sabandeños preceded the image of the saint, and after it, the Municipal Corporation, the traditional boats and the carts, prolonging the pilgrimage until well into the afternoon.

The La Laguna City Council estimates that more than 15,000 people participated in the pilgrimage, which started around one in the afternoon from the San Benito hermitage. Before, the Eucharist and the traditional offering to the saint had been celebrated. After this traditional act, the pilgrimage began with the usual route through Marqués de Celada streets, Doctor Olivera square, Herradores street and Tabares de Cala to return to the hermitage through Obispo Rey Redondo and Marqués de Celada streets.

A tour that was attended by numerous politicians, in addition to the mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, was also attended by the socialist Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Hector Gomez.

“I was very excited to accompany the mayor of La Laguna on his big day and to see the illusion and joy of the people in every corner. This party, which is prepared with so much passion and effort on the part of everyone, is the sign that we can once again celebrate and enjoy our traditions with complete normality. Enjoying our culture again, at a time when it is our obligation to claim it, our traditions and our history is thanks to collective work. There is no greater pride”, stressed the minister.

Héctor Gómez also highlighted that the celebration of San Benito Abad, patron saint of Europe, coincides with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU: “A symbol of the European spirit and the common values of dignity, tolerance and progress that we are going to defend during this Presidency ”.

For his part, the mayor of La Laguna, pointed out that “this is a day of celebration for La Laguna, a day of joy and a reunion with our traditions, with our agricultural origins.” “The festivities of San Benito -he continued- vindicate our ties with the land and remind us of the importance of caring for and protecting the rural environment, which is part of our idiosyncrasy.”

The mayor wanted to thank “thousands of people who have dedicated themselves to the day, with parties, dance groups and carts, and those who have made it possible from the organization.”

The attendees celebrated the return to enjoy the pilgrimage for another year, in which good wine, wrinkled potatoes, meat, kneaded gofiio or cheese were shared between attendees and the public, who watched how the carts became improvised supermarkets from which hard-boiled eggs, popcorn, or even a piece of festive meat came out for the smartest.