The Guanche Ceremony opens this Monday, August 14, in Candelaria (Tenerife) the acts in honor of the patron saint of the archipelago, which tells the story of the ancestors, in what is considered the first religious-festive dramatization of the Canary Islands in which was present the “historical memory of the ancient settlers” of the islands and their descendants.
In any case, and as reported by the Candelaria City Council in a press release, the origin of this ceremony goes back at least to the 18th century, ignoring how and when it was first performed.
The person in charge of carrying out the representation of the Guanche Ceremony is the Guanches Collective of Candelaria, who was awarded the Gold Medal of La Villa a few years ago, and who year after year stage the story, transmitting the legacy of parents to children.
The group is made up mainly of people from the middle of the municipality, some of them descendants of the “natural” Guanches.
The Guanche Ceremony will begin at 8:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live by Televisión Canaria. Once the image of the Virgin of Candelaria is finished, it will go out to meet the pilgrims to El Pozo to return to the Basilica of Candelaria, where, before entering the Basilica, Juan Manuel Martínez, will give a greeting from the Balcony of the Old Town Hall to the attendees, while the image will receive the musical offering of Alba Fariña and Fernando Santana, in addition to the usual Ave María by Chagp Melián.
The image of the Virgin of Candelaria will return to the Basilica, which will remain open all night, to receive pilgrims who want to come, while the Night of Parrandas in Memory of Rosaura Marrero Fariña will be held in the square with the Grupo Recordar es Vivir, partygoers and soloists from all over the island, all coordinated by Rosaura’s daughter, Gracita González.
These events will be broadcast by Canarian Television in the special program ‘Pilgrims’ Night’, from the Plaza del Espacio Cultural Ayuntamiento Viejo starting at 8:45 p.m.
