An abundant intangible legacy that has evolved over time into one of Spain’s principal festive, social, and cultural events.” So was the description given by photographer Isidro Felipe during his announcement of the May Festival in Los Realejos, providing a personal and emotive portrayal based on his more than 30 years of experience behind the camera.
The proclamation took place on Saturday in Plaza Viera y Clavijo, and during his address titled ‘May from the heart’, the photographer shared over fifty memorable images of these celebrations with the audience via the stage screen.
Felipe Acosta revealed his “overwhelming excitement” at the age of thirteen when he experienced his first Cruz day up close. “That night, I could hardly sleep, I rose with the first light flashes and dashed up my steep street, El Medio de Abajo,” he recalled.
His collaboration in the Festival program began in 1990 with the article Fire and Flowers on the Third of May, “a program that left a lasting impression, as it was illustrated with photographs by the remarkable German photographer Renate Müller”, an artist who had “immense fondness for this town.”
“The festival’s spirit and the simplicity and warmth of its organizers” captivated him to such an extent that he felt compelled to make it known through every possible medium. “I have always seen myself as a communicator and felt the urge to share it with those who were unfamiliar with this tradition and the rivalry between neighbours on two streets. The passion was so intense that from that moment on, I have ceaselessly promoted it wherever I went and with the resources at my disposal,” he expressed.
This sentiment was echoed by the mayor, Adolfo González, who highlighted that the photographer “has been a cornerstone of the municipality’s heritage from the 90s until 2023 through his work in the City Council’s Press Office, as well as in his ongoing contribution to the historical and ethnographic narrative of this town, leaving behind thousands of documents that gain significance over time. Without his dedication and profound love for Los Realejos and its traditions, we would not have access to such valuable materials.”
