Due to the heat wave who lives in the Canary Islands, with temperatures above 40 degrees, the authorities recommend pilgrims who plan to visit Candelaria today or tomorrow to strictly follow the marked paths to reach Villa Mariana. Added to the usual prohibition of driving on the highway is that of traveling through the mountains and that of walking along the Via de Los Peregrinos, which goes from Barranco Hondo to Candelaria, and which has never been officially opened, despite being built for it.
The authorities advise taking public transport, and in any case, there will be inhabited parking areas in the industrial estate, land behind the Civil Guard barracks and the Los Menceyes boulevard, in Punta Larga. It is expected, despite the heat, that around 100,000 people will meet over the next two days in Candelaria, although some have already taken advantage of the weekend to get to the feet of La Morenita that looks for the occasion a coral-colored cloak.
Candelaria will focus all eyes on the most important acts in honor of the General Patron of the Archipelago, beginning the appointment with the history of our ancestors, the Guanche Ceremony. The representation of the discovery of the image was the first theatricalization of a religious-festive nature in the Canary Islands, in the 18th century, in which the memory of the ancient inhabitants of the Archipelago and their descendants was present.
The Guanches de Candelaria Collective, who was awarded the La Villa Gold Medal a few years ago, is in charge of carrying out the Ceremony year after year, transmitting this legacy from father to son.
The Guanche Ceremony will begin at 8:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live by Televisión Canaria. Once finished, the image of the Virgin of Candelaria will meet the pilgrims to El Pozo to return to the Basilica of Candelaria, where before entering again the rector of the Basilica, Juan Manuel Martínez Corral, from the balcony of the Town Hall Viejo will greet the attendees and the image will receive the musical offering of Alba Fariña and Fernando Santana, in addition to the usual Ave María by Chago Melián.
The Virgin will return to the Basilica, which will remain open all night, to receive the pilgrims. Meanwhile, the Night of Parrandas in Memory of Rosaura Marrero Fariña will be held in the square, with parranderos and soloists from all over the Island.
