As is customary every 7th September, the quaint village of El Socorro in Güímar witnessed yesterday a Massive Descent of the Virgin, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over Tenerife and visitors eager to partake in the oldest pilgrimage in the Canary Islands. While traditional attire is not mandatory, pilgrims are encouraged to don hats for sun protection and exhibit great devotion towards the Honourable Mayor.
This year’s event falling on a Saturday surpassed all participation expectations, resulting in a delayed departure for the icon due to the large throng at the Plaza de San Pedro, with municipal sources estimating around 7,000 individuals present. Among the assembly were Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife and this year’s herald of the Fiestas, along with Manuel Domínguez, the first vice president of the Government of the Canary Islands, alongside various municipal Corporation members.
Once the pilgrims’ mass concluded at the church, thousands gathered to escort the Virgin, immersed in traditional songs, enthusiastic cheers, the melodies of the Banda Amigos del Arte, and a strong aroma of basil, before commencing La Bajada from the hermitage of El Calvario—arriving an hour late after 12:30 in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, the icon was transferred to the Cruz de Tea del Llano de la Virgen, where the ceremony of the apparition to the Guanches occurred, reminiscent of events nearly 600 years ago. Upon the ceremony’s conclusion, the procession back to the Socorro hermitage took place, followed by an evening mass dedicated to the deceased faithful, culminating in the so-called Las Candelas procession. The weather remained favourable throughout the day, with temperatures milder than in previous years, occasional clouds, and a light breeze providing relief to the attendees.
Approximately 300 personnel from various security forces ensured the day went smoothly, with only a few instances of dehydration reported, which posed no significant concern. According to sources, participation exceeded 60,000, with predictions that the total could reach 100,000 over the weekend.
Yesterday, the small village of El Socorro transformed into a vast dining hall, as locals eagerly opened their homes to offer food and beverages to pilgrims visiting from various regions of the island, eagerly taking part in a festival deeply embedded in the Canary Islands’ history, which will conclude this evening when the statue of the Virgin is returned to the church of San Pedro after ten o’clock at night.
Shared History with Candelaria
The reverence for the Virgin of Socorro in Güímar traces its origins to a shared history with the veneration of the image of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands. According to legend, between 1430 and 1450, prior to the conquest, some Guanche shepherds stumbled upon a wooden likeness of the Virgin on the beach of Socorro, also known as Chimisay. Astonished by their discovery, they took it to the cave of the mencey Acaymo, who, upon struggling to carry it, sought assistance, leading to the traditions commemorated to this day.
In the early 16th century, Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo commissioned the construction of the Socorro chapel near the beach to memorialise the site where the Guanches found the Virgin of Candelaria.
Official chronicler of Güímar, Octavio Rodríguez, attributes the origins of the Virgin’s pilgrimage to 1643, nearly 200 years after the image was discovered by the Guanche shepherds along the shores of Chimisay. The pilgrimage from Güímar to El Socorro commenced in December and has taken place annually for 177 years.
