Pilgrimages and magical dances are known as two of the most emblematic traditions in all of the Canary Islands. Each person has their favourite one, the one that holds a special place in their hearts or brings back fond memories, making it a difficult task to objectively rank them. However, the pilgrimage in Tenerife proudly holds the title of being the oldest in the Canary Islands.
Every year, tens of thousands of devoted followers gather to take part in this pilgrimage, which is deeply steeped in religious significance and has been a revered tradition since around 1430 or 1450, as per popular belief.
The Historic Tenerife Pilgrimage with over 500 Years of Legacy
On the 7th of September, the town of Guimar in Tenerife honours the Descent of the Virgin of Socorro, an event deeply rooted in the region’s history. The procession follows a path from the San Pedro Church in the heart of the town to the Socorro Beach hermitage where the Virgin is venerated.
In the evening, a reenactment of Our Lady of Help’s apparition to the Guanches takes place on Chimisay Beach. The following day, the Virgin’s image is taken back to the town and returned to the San Pedro Church.
The devotion to the Virgen del Socorro in Güímar shares a historical connection with the worship of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Legend has it that between 1430 and 1450, before the conquest, some Guanche shepherds stumbled upon a wooden sculpture of the Virgin at Socorro Beach, also known as Chimisay, in Güímar. Astonished by the find, they brought the image to Mencey Acaymo’s cave, carried in his arms. Struggling under its weight, he sought assistance, giving rise to the tradition that endures to this day.
In the early 16th century, Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo oversaw the construction of the Socorro hermitage near the beach, in honour of the site where the Guanches discovered the image of the Virgin of Candelaria.
According to Octavio Rodríguez, the official chronicler of Güímar, the origins of the Virgin’s journey date back to around 1643, nearly two centuries after the appearance of the Chaxiraxi image to Guanche shepherds on the shores of Chimisay. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage from Güímar to El Socorro, which commenced in December, has been observed continuously for 177 years.
