Candelaria is celebrating. The municipality celebrated this Saturday, 12th July, the main day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of fishermen, a day that peaked with the embarkation of the Virgin.
Despite this special moment, various events took place throughout the morning to honour the Virgin. Thus, the municipality adorned itself to experience a day full of tradition and devotion that combined religious acts, popular culture, and entertainment, attracting a large number of locals and visitors who came to uphold the tradition.
The Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, expressed her satisfaction with the day: “This is a celebration that unites faith, tradition, and the joy of our people. It has been a wonderful opportunity to enjoy with family and friends all the events we have prepared with such love. We particularly want to thank the residents of Calle El Pozo for this year’s beautiful carpets, which once again demonstrated their creativity and commitment to keeping this tradition alive. To all the groups, associations, and neighbours who contribute and come together for this day: endless thanks.”
Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. / E. D.
The festivities began early in the morning at 6:30 a.m. with the traditional Rosary of Aurora from the Parish of Santa Ana, where the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was solemnly taken on a procession to the Fishing Dock.
Once there, the Fishermen’s Square was the setting for the Eucharist, presided over by Fray Dailos José Melo González, the parish priest of Santa Ana, and accompanied musically by the Agrupación Folklórica Santa Ana-San Blas. After the mass, attendees enjoyed a community chocolate treat, kindly offered by Churrería El Kiosko.
The creativity and folk art had a prominent space in this festive day. Calle El Pozo witnessed the preparation and display of the traditional salt carpets, with 3,250 kilograms used this year, which were expertly crafted by local residents.
The atmosphere on this street became even livelier with the music of Dixieland Las Candelas, which put on a performance for everyone’s enjoyment mid-morning.
Later in the afternoon, the most special moment of the day occurred with the embarkation of the Virgin and the maritime procession. An event where emotion and devotion came together to accompany the patroness of fishermen on her return to the sea, as every year.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel sailed Candelaria’s waters, on this occasion, aboard ‘Marino’.
Previously, there was a prayer led by Fray Dailos José Melo González and a floral offering to the Virgin with the rendition of ‘El Pescador’, by Fran Hernández, to whom the Mayor, Mari Brito, expressed her gratitude for giving a voice to the festivities with the presentation of a commemorative painting. Additionally, posthumously, the Town Hall and the Brotherhood of Fishermen of Our Lady of Candelaria presented a plaque to the family of Luis González González in remembrance of a lifetime dedicated to fishing.
Subsequently, at the fishing dock, Our Lady of Mount Carmel was carried on the shoulders of the bearers and embarked on ‘Marino’ to carry out the maritime procession to Bajo La Cuesta and Las Caletillas, returning to the fishing dock to begin the procession back to the Parish of Santa Ana, accompanied by the faithful, authorities, and the Banda de Música Las Candelas.
In Calle El Pozo, following the fireworks, the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel passed through the streets decorated by the locals, where 3,250 kilograms of salt were used and where both young and old worked throughout Saturday morning to ensure the street presented the best image as the procession passed.
On this occasion, additionally, Fran Hernández and Carmen Pilar Rodríguez, at the beginning and end of the street, sang as the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel passed by.
During the night, attendees will be able to enjoy a street festival with music provided by the orchestras Nueva Línea and Columbia, which will take place from 11:30 p.m. in the Plaza de Santa Ana.
