The annual event of The Donkeys of Güímar once again put on a splendid show of vivid colours, intense heat, and fiery displays last night. This year, a yet another old tradition was revived by including little ghosts in the procession of a hundred extras, reinstating the practice of wearing bed sheet costumes. The Güimar Carnival, condensed into a single day, concluded with the burning of the Sardine, which was met with protests due to increased prices and the Eurovision song of Zorra, alongside the traditional festivities.
Since 1992, when the artist Javier Eloy Campos, now Councilor for Culture, reinstated it, the unique spectacle of Las Burras has been the most notable and nearly solitary event of the Güímar Carnival. Last night, it was once again executed with artistry by around a hundred amateur extras, captivating an audience of approximately 3,000 people.
The event commenced at San Pedro Arriba after nine in the evening, where the Burial of the Sardine, accompanied by a large number of widows and peasants, began its procession towards Plaza de San Pedro, encountering donkey-shaped figures along the way.
This unexpected sight led to an altercation, during which the figures were attacked and stabbed with knives, only to discover that they were witches and not donkeys. Subsequently, a disturbing coven was initiated as they invoked the demon.
The witches, unclothed and common women, summoned the devil using the organs and blood of their victims. The demon then materialised, accompanied by a group of imps and Baulén, a former aristocrat. Shortly after, the Holy Inquisition arrived with the bishop and his friars. The bishop summoned the Archangel Saint Michael, who descended wielding his sword, ultimately defeating the demon after a fierce battle.
Following the demon’s demise, the witches were burnt at the stake along with the Sardine, marking the conclusion of the spectacle. This was followed by a grand festival, featuring a performance by the Nueva Línea orchestra, to celebrate the success of the show.
The Small Object
In the morning, starting from the Julián Zafra CEIP, whose Ampa initiated the event, the Cosito took place. It involved over a thousand students from the five schools in the municipality of Güímar, donning their most daring costumes as they paraded from the Julián Zafra CEIP to San Pedro Square, passing through Tasagaya and Santa Cruz Avenue, accompanied by teachers and family members.
