The As has been customary since more than 400 years agoJanuary brings us a new year and, also, a new edition of the patron saint festivities and pilgrimage of Arona in honor of San Antonio Abad.
The traditional raising of the municipal flag on the Cross of San Antonio that announces the beginning of these festivities will take place at 12:00 p.m. next Thursday, January 11, at which time the religious and popular events in charge of giving will take place. splendor to these patron saint festivities.
Election of Romera Mayor, Dance of Magicians and Folk Festival
That same Thursday night the Election Gala of the Mayor of Arona will be held in the Plaza del Cristo de la Salud. The popular Magician’s Ball in honor of San Antonio Abad will take place the next day in the same square. As usual, it is essential to wear traditional costume to participate in this lively dance that will begin at 9:00 p.m. and, entertained by several folk groups, will continue well into the early hours of the morning.
On Saturday the 13th it will be the turn of the XVII Verodal Festival, which starting at 8:30 p.m. will delight attendees with folklore performances by Faya and Brezal de Icod de Los Vinos, Gaida de Lanzarote and Verodal. As soon as this festival ends, a dance will begin in the town square, enlivened by the Tropin and Los Ideales orchestras.
Sung mass, pilgrimage, blessing of animals and festival
Sunday’s festive agenda will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a Crafts Exhibition that can be enjoyed until nightfall in the Plaza del Cristo. At 11:00 a.m., with the Parranda Chasnera, the traditional sung mass in honor of San Antonio Abad will begin and will give way at noon to the traditional Pilgrimage of the Aronero helmet.
In this event that keeps alive the memory of what the Aronera agrarian society was and its devotion to the saint it worships, several folk groups from inside and outside the municipality will participate and will put the main note of music and dance among the colorful costumes. of magicians, the colorful decoration that adorns the streets and the careful floats that characterize this endearing pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage route will pass through the heart of the Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) of the Aronero town and, specifically, through the streets El Calvario, Domínguez Afonso, La Luna and Duque de la Torre. During the pilgrimage, the traditional blessing of animals will also take place, an event that continues to enjoy great popularity among neighbors of all ages who come with both farm animals and their pets.
The Wamampy and Nueva Línea orchestras will be in charge of continuing to animate the day during the evening festival that will take place in the town’s central square between 3:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
That day, the Arona City Council will enable a special free bus service that will depart from Los Cristianos and Las Américas towards Arona town at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00, and that will take the reverse route in the afternoon. , at 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Folklore, traditional games and sports, mass, chocolate and fireworks
The festive events will continue on Monday the 15th in the afternoon with workshops and exhibitions of traditional games and sports and with children’s folklore performances in honor of San Abad. And between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the events will take place that will put the final culmination of these festivities with the mass and the procession to the Cross of San Antonio, chocolate and fireworks.
An opportunity to look into our history and strengthen ties
The mayor of Arona, Fátima Lemes, has highlighted that this patron saint’s day and pilgrimage whose origin dates back to the 17th century, presents among its great virtues the ability to remain faithful to the traditions it treasures, “evoking our historical heritage in each scene and in every look, making us feel as if we were part of a postcard with life framed in the historic complex of Arona helmet.” But, as Lemes has highlighted, “with the gift of rejuvenating each year, renewing its charm and the enthusiasm of those who dare to participate in its festive events.”
“It is not every day that we have the privilege of peering into our history through such an endearing festive window, nor of enjoying the certainty that our traditions will continue to endure in the future thanks to this commemoration that, in addition – as the mayor has pointed out –, it gives us a great opportunity to strengthen ties and share a good time with other neighbors, family and friends.”
For his part, the Festival Councilor, Alexis David Gómez, has placed the emphasis on “this is not just another celebration: it is one of the festivals with the greatest historical roots in the region”, which keeps alive the memory of what was the agrarian society of Arona and its devotion to this saint. And, at the same time, “it provides a special occasion to share a good time with the rest of the attendees, thus uniting history, culture and tradition with a present marked by collective joy, fun and social relationships. Nor can we forget the tourist interest that this celebration has acquired, which is also characterized by inaugurating the season of pilgrimages in the southern regions.”
Aware of the importance of all this, as the councilor has indicated, “the Festivities Department of the Arona City Council has carefully prepared the 2024 edition of these festivities in close collaboration with neighbors linked to this festivity to guarantee the enjoyment of the assistants”.
