Her name is María Cristina López Rodríguez, she is 44 years old, and hails from La Orotava, specifically from the San Juan Bautista neighbourhood. Her name and visage will be remembered in the town for being the first woman to carry a load during Holy Week, a sight that was quite rare until just a few years ago.
Cristina is a member of several brotherhoods, including the sisterhood of the Blessed Virgin of Gloria, which is the only solely female group in the municipality, as well as the Nazarene brotherhood and others unrelated to Holy Week, such as the Virgen del Carmen and the Blessed Sacrament.
She admits that as a child, she had dreamed of carrying a load and thought it wouldn’t be feasible as it was a task traditionally held by men. However, seven years ago, she was given the opportunity to carry the Lord of the Cañita, putting an end to the misconceptions surrounding a woman’s ability to fulfil such a role.
She recalls it was a Holy Monday when “the afternoon descended gently over Orotava and the saint was set to depart from the church of San Juan Bautista. The atmosphere was rich with the scent of incense, blended with the hushed tones of the town that enveloped the air with a sense of reverence and faith. The streets were steeped in silence, and it felt as though my soul was gathering in anticipation of something significant during that procession, something monumental.” She still feels emotional when recounting that moment in which “a uniquely special aura prevailed, complemented by the murmurs of people in the background”, as Eugenio, one of the wardens, approached her and with “a calm and assured gaze” instructed her to carry the redoma instead of the candle to bear the Lord of the Cañita.
Those words not only signified a significant moment in her life “but also unleashed a torrent of emotions that caused her to reflect on the many efforts required to reach that point.”
At 37 years old, a myriad of thoughts flooded her mind in that brief moment. “It was a matter of seconds,” she shares. She also recalls the words spoken by Pedro Jorge Benítez, the pastor at that time of San Juan Bautista, who remarked that he could not refuse any sister who wished to carry a load as this was not prohibited in their statutes “and both men and women have equal rights.”
“He conveyed that statement with absolute conviction, which not only dismantled legal, emotional, and social barriers but also paved the way for a change for women, for all those like me who had silently dreamt and longed for such a possibility,” Cristina explains.
Nevertheless, she acknowledges that the journey was not smooth. “It was a battle to attain equality within traditions, a relentless struggle filled with resistance, misunderstandings, uncomfortable silences, and judgments that for years undermined a woman’s ability to carry a load.” Many challenges lay ahead, from physical demands to rigid traditions.
In this regard, she wants to clarify that this was not just her battle, but also that of many other women and those who would follow her. She notably praises her brotherhood, of which she currently serves on the Board of Directors, “as it was the first in Orotava” to champion the inclusion of women as active participants during Holy Week, an act of faith and bravery that transformed the experience for many other women.
She also mentions Domingo Hernández, whom she fondly refers to as “her godfather,” as he has always been an encouraging figure, providing her with the motivation to pursue her path.
Since that pivotal moment, Cristina and other women have been able to carry all the loads that appear in procession during Holy Week, regardless of their brotherhood affiliation.
The weight of each load can exceed several tonnes, which is why multiple crews are often necessary. However, she asserts that “carrying the Lord or the Virgin is not a burden; it is a weight that does not feel heavy.”
There were no loaders in her family. Cristina was inspired by a friend who once suggested staying at her home over Holy Week instead of participating in a family trip. “It was the best decision I have ever made in my life,” she reflects.
On Holy Monday, Cristina will again carry the Lord of the Cañita. She will embark on this task with the same faith and devotion as she did seven years ago, when she transitioned from being a mere observer to becoming one of the central figures of Holy Week.
