Still with the aftertaste of nougat in the mouth given how recent the Christmas dates are, the historic center of Arona hosted at noon this Sunday the first pilgrimage of the year in Tenerife. The tour in honor of San Antonio Abad, which included passing through El Calvario, Domínguez Alfonso, La Luna and Duque de la Torre streets, did not disappoint anyone: not even the locals, who enjoyed the food offered by the carts, nor to the tourists, who were enveloped in amazement by the spirit of folklore. More than a thousand people followed the walk closely.
The meeting point to enjoy the festival was the Parish of San Antonio Abad, where at 11:00 in the morning the massan emotional Eucharist that was sung by Parranda Chasnera and that gave way, around 12:15 p.m., to the beginning of the pilgrimage walk.
The spotlight then passed to the Group of Herreños Dancers from Tenerife. Pedro Hormiga, one of its members, said that this is the third year that They accompany the image of the saint to the beat of the music played by the whistle, the large drums and the chácaras.. “This pilgrimage is the one we come with the most enthusiasm for, since it is the first of the year,” said Hormiga. His group, made up of around 40 people from different parts of Tenerife, rehearses every Friday and does not usually miss any pilgrimage. In addition, they attend the popular festivals of El Hierro.
The turns and jumps of these dancers occurred under the watchful eye of Yolima Rodríguez, an octogenarian Venezuelan who, despite having only been residing on the Island for a year, had had time to soak up the tradition and even explain it to the numerous tourists of her around, in perfect English, what the ride consisted of. “It is an offering to San Antonio Abad, who is a figure that these neighbors venerate”he told them.
Between explanation and explanation, Rodríguez took time to greet the mayor of Arona, Fátima Lemes, whom he met by chance: “I live in Las Galletas and I usually go to the theater. One day she was chosen as the Queen of the 2023 Fiestas and, since no one showed up, they chose me,” she said, amused. In reality, her entire history with Tenerife is the result of chance, since she should never have come to the Island: “My daughters, who lived here, went to Germany, but I had a problem with my documentation. In the end I decided to come here alone, without family or company. Not only do I not regret landing in Tenerife, but I hope that the documentary failure is not fixed and thus have an excuse to stay here, where they have welcomed me so well,” she stated.
Around the church there were also Manuel Pérez and José Martero, two Tenerife residents from the metropolitan area who have been attending different festivals and pilgrimages for more than 30 years. Dressed in the typical costume and with a cane of colored ribbons and flowers, they left the offering to San Benito Abad. “This particular pilgrimage is the second year we have come but for me it is one of the best, not only because it is the first but because of the family atmosphere there is, since it is full of children. There are also a lot of tourists, but they are respectful of tradition,” said Martero.
Cows, goats, horses and even a donkey then descended the sloping streets of the historic center of Arona. Yeray Hernández, a 33-year-old young man who has been dedicated to the job since he was 14, was in charge of shepherding. From Valle Tabares, in La Laguna, 27 very well-behaved goats were brought and they even stopped to be photographed. “I like this pilgrimage because it is not very hot, which is something that is worse during summer festivals,” he celebrated.
From hard-boiled egg to wine
The good custom of delivering food to attendees from carts has not been lost in Arona. Hard-boiled eggs, bananas, gofio, figs, chorizo sandwiches, tomatoes and even wine were passed from one hand to another at great speed. Furthermore, if anyone was hungry they could attend the free tasting that took place at 2:30 p.m. in the Plaza del Santísimo Cristo de la Salud, where the crafts exhibition could also be visited.
