SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 14th August (EUROPA PRESS) –
The town of Candelaria will be celebrating the Great Day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the Patron Saint of the Canary Archipelago, on Thursday, 15th August. The day will be filled with a range of religious, cultural, and festive activities to honour the ‘Morenita’ on this significant day.
The day will commence with Eucharistic celebrations at the Candelaria Basilica at 05:00, 06:00, 07:00, and 08:00. At 09:00, there will be a drum reception and offering by the Cultural Association La Guanchería de Los Realejos, commemorating their 25 years of tradition. Following this, at 10:00, the 33rd Athletic Floral Offering to the Virgin will take place, organised by Base-Deportes Salud, with the participation of 610 runners.
At 11:00, a civic procession will depart from the Town Hall to the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, where a military parade will take place at 11:30, along with the reception of the representative of His Majesty the King of Spain, Julio Salom Herrera, Lieutenant General Chief of the Canary Islands Command. This event will be broadcast live on La 2 de TVE in the Canary Islands, Televisión Canaria, Cope Canarias, and Candelaria Radio.
At 12:00, a solemn Eucharistic celebration will be conducted at the Basilica, presided over by Monsignor Bernardo Álvarez, the bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense. The ceremony will involve the participation of the Coral Voces para la Esperanza Villa de Candelaria and the Las Candelas Chamber Orchestra. It will also be broadcast live on La 2 de TVE in the Canary Islands, Televisión Canaria, Cope Canarias, and Candelaria Radio, as well as on the screen at the Plaza.
Following the Mass, there will be a procession of the Virgin of Candelaria around the Plaza, accompanied by fireworks. In the evening, at 5:15, there will be the recitation of the Holy Rosary at the Basilica, and at 6:00, the final Mass of the day will be sung by the Choir of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Pedro Álvarez.
At 9:00 p.m., the Plaza will host the Offering to the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, a spectacle that will showcase music and traditions from all the islands in honour of the Virgin. The music will be provided by Parranda Chasnera, with guest singers from other islands and dance groups. The event will be presented by Sergio de la Rosa and broadcast live on Televisión Canaria and TVE in the Canary Islands.
