If coveted is the cardstock of the first interpretation award of the Murgas de Santa Cruz competition, it was not the invitation to participate in the unique Murguera party of Tenerife that was organised until last year by two enthusiastic carnival fans, Darío Hernández and José Félix Hernández, in the municipality of La Guancha.
According to custom, this Saturday should mark the holding of the tenth edition, which has now been postponed to March 29, and has little connection to the original spirit of the event.
The day attempted to reach out to the Councillor for Fiestas, Lorena Socas, without success.
Background
This initiative for enthusiasts of Las Murgas commenced in 2006 as a festival of Murgas de la Guancha, continuing in that format until 2009. Following the onset of the crisis, the tenth iteration was revived in 2011, and that year the Murguera party of Tenerife served as a euphemism for a gathering that started with the coexistence of murgueros, where participants savoured local delicacies and enjoyed both the beauty and culinary offerings of the town, culminating in a meeting that showcased the interpretation winners, as well as guest performers who were pioneers of this initiative.
Above all, a friendly atmosphere prevailed, where even various mayors took on the role of guides to showcase their municipalities.
In its early days, even a priest promoted the Virgin of Good Humour, advocating one of the devotions that Bishop iguacen Borau highly regarded.
Murguera Cathedral
The Casino de la Guancha became the Murguera Cathedral during the Saturday following the Murgas de Candelaria gathering; the Toño cafeteria, the Teo restaurant, and local wineries turned into a chapel of essential pilgrimage that attracted around fifty directors, lyricists, and notable members of critical groups.
All of this was made possible by Darío Hernández and José Félix Hernández. With the developments in El Casino, the Murguera party began to lose momentum after relocating to the Plus Ultra pavilion and subsequently to the Church Square, with each passing edition resembling any ordinary town festival.
In the previous year, the local government team took charge of the organisation and disregarded the original coordinators, opting for a jury from the government team that selected this year’s participants, including ironic, cladas, and bambones, while neglecting the invitation extended to devils. The spirit of coexistence has faded, turning the Murguera party into merely a festival.
