Behind the dignified presence of the macer lies a centuries-old history steeped in solemnity. Although now a relatively obscure profession, these individuals are essentially municipal functionaries tasked with leading local processions. They carry the municipal silver mace on their shoulder, donning a tabard adorned with the institution’s coat of arms. This attire is complemented by a feathered velvet hat, stockings matching the tabard, and gloves.
The roots of this ceremonial role can be traced back to medieval royal processions, which later extended to town halls and academic institutions. Thus, the symbolism of the mace they carry harks back to the defensive weapon used by knights in the Middle Ages.
Currently, they lead official institutional events like processions, funerals, receptions for heads of state, mayoral inaugurations, or the awarding of gold medals to eminent personalities. Hence, the presence of the macer in such solemn occasions and municipal processions is an ancient tradition symbolising the authority and power of the institution.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, founded on December 7, 1803, has always included macers since its inception, with their representation even immortalised in the principal stained glass windows adorning the grand Assembly Hall of the city hall. Below the central depiction in this artistic composition lies the city’s crest, flanked by two macers on either side, symbolising the authority and dignity of the municipality.
Over the more than 220 years of municipal history, male macers have maintained this role, until a historic moment on March 18 when Sonia Ramos, an interim official at the Santa Cruz City Council, became the first female macer of the local Corporation.
Sonia Ramos has been serving as an assistant at the Municipal Palace since 2019, handling protocol tasks such as narrating the history of the Plenary Hall to visitors and safeguarding the macers’ attire, among other responsibilities. Little did she anticipate that four years later, she would actively participate in the very space she had recounted tales of so many times, even wearing the very garments she had preserved in the Town Hall.
“Becoming a macer was serendipitous as one of the officials performing this role for many years fell ill. With a shortage of personnel for the event at City Hall— the presentation of the City’s Gold Medal to the illustrator Enrique Darias, I volunteered to step in for my colleague. I never envisaged the impact this would have,” remarked the official in astonishment.
The macer explained that her first task was to don the outfit and make adjustments since the attire is tailored for male proportions. “The garments are voluminous, consisting of multiple layers of velvet and are quite heavy, despite being relatively new as they were tailored two years ago by Néstor Rodríguez for the City Council.”
After adjusting the attire to fit her frame, Sonia Ramos hoisted the three-kilo silver mace, her nerves on edge, engaging in preliminary rehearsals, buoyed by her colleagues’ encouragement.
Encounter
She recounted fond memories of the experience, “I felt immense pride and constant support leading the procession in the Plenary Hall. Despite standing for prolonged periods overseeing the mayor, time seemed to fly by. It was a profoundly beautiful and special moment, so much so that I intend to repeat it next Friday in the Holy Week procession,” the macer announced.
Sonia Ramos, who had narrated the history of the Noble Hall on numerous occasions, expressed, “I never envisioned being part of the macers who safeguard the city’s crest, a ceremonial figure laden with symbolic significance. Hence, I felt incredibly honoured and grateful to assume this role,” she concluded.
