Arona already has a major pilgrimage for its Patron Saint Festivities and Pilgrimage in Honor of San Antonio Abad 2024, which together with Tigaiga (Los Realejos) open this weekend the Tenerife pilgrimage calendar for 2024. Sheila Chavez Santosrepresentative of Cabo Blanco, was selected by the jury of the Election Gala of the Greater Romera of Aronaevent held in the Plaza del Santísimo Cristo de la Salud in Arona helmet.
Sheila Chávez received the pilgrimage sash from Ruth Guacimara Martín, deputy mayor of the Arona City Council, representing the mayor, Fatima Lemesand the Councilor for Festivities and Security, who were not present at the gala as they were following the fire extinguishing work which was declared in a municipal composting plant. The outgoing senior pilgrim, Adriana Mora Casanova, presented the Romera Rod to her successor.
Along with Sheila Chávez were also Daniela Gómez Mesa, representing Arona Casco; Sheila Rodríguez Alonso (San Lorenzo Valley); Alexia Hernández Darias (El Fraile); Ainara Mendoza Fumero (Buzanada) and Claudia Valentín (La Camella). Each of them also received a Pilgrimage Rod, thus fulfilling one of the traditions of these Patron Saint Festivities and Pilgrimage in Honor of San Antonio Abad.
As has happened for more than 400 years, January brings us a new edition of the patron saint festivities and pilgrimage of Arona in honor of San Antonio Abad. The main events take place this Sunday. They will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a craft show which can be enjoyed until nightfall in the Plaza del Cristo. At 11:00 a.m., with the Chasnera Parrandathe traditional mass sung in honor of San Antonio Abad will begin, which will give way at noon to thethe traditional pilgrimage of the aronero helmet.
The pilgrimage keeps alive the memory of what was the aronera agrarian society and their devotion to the saint they worship, several folkloric 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 decoration that adorns the streets and the careful floats that characterize this endearing pilgrimage.
Today’s pilgrimage route will pass through the heart of the Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) of the old town, specifically, through the streets El Calvario, Domínguez Afonso, La Luna and Duque de la Torre. During the pilgrimage, the blessing of animals will also take place, an act that continues to enjoy great popularity among neighbors 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.
The Arona City Council enables a special free bus service that will depart from Los Cristianos and The Americas towards Arona helmet at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00, and they will do the reverse route in the afternoon, at 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00.
The festive events will continue tomorrow, Monday afternoon, with workshops and exhibitions of traditional games and sports and with children’s folklore performances in honor of Saint Abbot. 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.
