An image showcasing the picturesque hermitage from the 1940s.
PROCLAMATION OF THE FIESTA DE LAS MERCEDES 2025
Dear neighbours of Las Mercedes, fellow Corporators, friends:
I would like to begin these words by expressing my gratitude to the parish priest, Don Agustín, and the Festival Committee for considering me as the herald for the festivities of Our Lady of Las Mercedes.
I have always regarded La Laguna as a town of towns, each with its own personality and unique identity.
This diversity is what makes La Laguna a municipality rich in culture, traditions, and festive expressions.
But above all, it is rich because of its people.
As a new resident of Las Mercedes, one of the last to arrive, I feel fortunate to publicly express my gratitude to Las Mercedes, the place where I live.
Time passes swiftly, and it has been nearly six years since my wife and I decided to start our family in this wonderful area of the Vega Lagunera.
In this time, our son has been born, who is indeed a true mercedero by birth.
And if, as the poet says, our true homeland is childhood, I must regard Las Mercedes as my son’s homeland.
Over these years, we have discovered a welcoming and friendly community, where coexistence and respect are upheld as some of its most treasured values.
It is a town that has made solidarity and hospitality its best weapons against xenophobic and exclusionary rhetoric.
We have uncovered the wonderful link between Las Mercedes and agricultural life, along with its connection to the fertile lands of the Vega Lagunera.
This relationship has historically shaped La Laguna’s identity, creating a municipality where rural and urban life coexist in perfect harmony.
The boat races were a significant part of the festivities of yesteryear. Photographs from the 1930s.
Las Mercedes also serves as a gateway from the Northeast Region or, seen from another perspective, as the access point for La Laguna to the sea and its beautiful coastal sites of Jóver, Bajamar, and Punta del Hidalgo, as well as to the towns of Tejina and Valle de Guerra.
As mayor, I have advocated for access to be made through a tunnel that would extend the ring road beneath Mesa Mota, which would divert more than 15,000 vehicles that use this road daily.
A tunnel (the Gorgolana) is not intended to isolate Las Mercedes; rather, it is to ensure that, by eliminating passing traffic, Las Mercedes can continue to enhance its quality of life and wellbeing, facilitating more orderly development.
This also serves as the entrance to the Anaga Rural Park, a significant forest treasure of our municipality and one of the lungs of our island.
At a time when we see repeatedly how we are affected by the challenges of climate change, Las Mercedes is a perfect example that caring for our forests and looking after the nature around us benefits us all and is more pertinent than ever.
Indeed, the forest of Las Mercedes is a magical environment.
It is revealing to note that over a century ago, this area was one of the places for rest and recreation for many residents of La Laguna, who found in nature a privileged space for leisure and a source of inspiration for creators and artists.
The people of Las Mercedes have always understood this, and their bond with nature has helped forge a united community deeply rooted in the locality.
They are individuals who cherish their traditions and cultural and festive identity.
A prime example is the famous pilgrimage in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza, one of the most anticipated events in the calendar, representing our rich popular culture.
And of course, we have the eagerly awaited festivities in honour of Our Lady of Las Mercedes, which are made all the more special due to community involvement.
An image showcasing the picturesque hermitage from the 1930s.
Devotion, like traditions, is passed down from parents to children.
Generation after generation, bonds are established between the community and its beliefs, enduring over time.
Las Mercedes has maintained its connection with the image of the Virgin under her title of La Merced, or in other words, Mercy, which our world so desperately needs today.
This devotion has also acted as a unifying and fraternal force for the entire Vega Lagunera valley, which is aptly known as the Valley of Las Mercedes.
Researcher Julio Torres references a study by Rosa María Martín, which recounts how “in the 17th century, Juana de Vega and her husband, Captain Bernardino Fiesco del Castillo, brought an image of the Virgin from the Peninsula under the title of Las Mercedes, to which they professed great devotion.”
“In her will, drawn up in 1620, Doña Juana ordered that the image and the retablo she had in her home be placed in one of the chapels of the Convent of San Francisco in La Laguna. However, this order was not fulfilled, and the image was worshipped in a chapel in the valley known as Vega, as it belonged to her family.”
Beyond this documented origin, the pious legend states that the Virgin of Las Mercedes appeared to a man in a cave which is still known as the Cave of the Virgin, near where her chapel would later be constructed.
Regardless, what remains clear is that the Virgin of Las Mercedes arouses devotion that has persisted for centuries and is passed down from parents to children, as one of the great treasures to be preserved.
The festivities of Las Mercedes are a manifestation that enriches the history of the towns and districts of La Laguna, each with its own devotion, but sharing a common spirit.
Some say there are too many festivals in La Laguna. However, I argue that festivals celebrate life, what unites us to our society, and connect us to our past and our history.
They present an excellent opportunity to gather again with family, friends, and to proudly renew our shared traditions.
It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the place to which we belong.
Thus, I would like to encourage our elders to pass on their experiences to the youth, to preserve the many stories each individual carries within them, which form part of the collective memory of this community.
We have the example of Don Ángel, at the helm of the festival committee, who has so much to share. And like him, many others.
And to the younger generation, I invite you to learn, to enjoy, and to share all the talents you possess, for there is immense wealth in this town.
You have the means, youth, energy, vitality, and joy to participate and make each village festival even better.
Festivals, ultimately, define who we are and where we come from, and they are a fitting time to remember all those who are no longer with us but remain in our memories.
They bequeathed to us this beautiful devotion to the Virgin who bears the name of this beloved town of La Laguna and will always remain in our hearts.
To celebrate this festival is to celebrate life.
Thank you very much.
Long live Our Lady of Las Mercedes!
Long live the mercederas and mercederos!
Long live our town of Las Mercedes!
