Candelaria is preparing this month to experience one of the most special festivals in honor of Saint Anne and Virgin of Carmena festivity that during the two years of the pandemic they have tried to keep alive by adapting them to the circumstances, with two changes that are going to bring a tail: there will be no party queen, given the decision to end beauty pageants, nor the magicians dance will be held in the Plaza de Santa Ana.
The mayoress Mari Brito advanced these two changes as “the most significant”, describing the decision to dispense with the queen’s election gala as “complicated and brave”, explaining that “an administration that fights every day for equality and the breaking of stereotypes, does not It must promote beauty contests among girls, before a jury that qualifies them based on their physical conditions, leaving out the vast majority that do not reach pre-established canons.
“Someone has to reverse these types of acts that we have unconsciously experienced without reflecting too much on the true values they transmit. We cannot promulgate one thing and the opposite, so for my part, I feel that it is more correct to allocate the budget of that event to work with the youth of Candelaria in education programs that avoid discrimination, eating disorders, gender violence and other problems among adolescents”, sentenced the mayor.
Likewise, Brito stated that “we will continue promoting fashion shows with more participation and diversity, as well as the industry and professionals in the sector, but without anyone having to label themselves as more beautiful than the others. I do not question that it is done in other places, I only proceed according to my conscience as a woman and mayor of the twenty-first century, aware of the historical weight that this act has, but relieved because its elimination does not affect any person in particular, “he categorically stated a decision which she described as “personal”, but which according to her had “the support of the entire government group”.
Six years ago, Sí se puede, which supported the PSOE from the outside after breaking the government pact with CC, called for the abolition of the party queens, but only managed to suppress the election of child queens.
The other important change in the festival program is that the traditional Santa Ana magicians dance will finally move to the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias to be able to accommodate a greater number of people, since current regulations prevent the capacity of tables and the capacity that there was previously.
And it is that in the square of Saint Ana Some 40 families would lose the historical location of their table and only 1,200 people would be able to access and 55 tables could be placed, while in the Plaza de la Patrona the capacity is 5,000 people and 200 tables, which was already too small in the Magicians’ Ball of the Canary Islands Day on May 29, exposed both the mayor and the mayor of Fiestas, Manuel González. They recognized that this measure has not been to the liking of many residents of the popular candelariero neighborhood.
An extensive program of events that does not include beauty pageants
This same week the acts will begin with batucadas through the streets of Santa Ana with Almagec and the Tropicana and Tropicana Infantil troupes that will tour the town and end in the Plaza de Los Pescadores with the opening of the festivities, Los + Cool Summer fashion show 2022 and the Los Vándalos concert, all on Thursday, July 7, starting at 9:00 p.m.
The next day, and also in Los Pescadores square, the Night at the Pier with Tapas and Wines will take place, a gastronomic fair with local products and wines from Tenerife that will be accompanied by the music of the 10th Festival Son del Talento, with Moise González accompanied by They are Iyá and Guava.
Boleros and other songs, I give you a rose (tribute to Juan Luis Guerra), Anastasia El Musical, the eighth Manolo Ramos Folklore Show, dramatized routes are some of the acts that complete a program that includes more than 50 activities.
Some festivities in which there will be a special recognition to Pedro González Pérez ‘Perico’ with the signage of the Plazoleta with his name, on Tuesday, July 26, and the Triangular Tribute that will take place on Saturday, July 30, in the Bruno Alberto Sabina Soccer Field.
In addition, Candelaria will live two very significant days that have become a benchmark of the festivities on Grandson’s Day, on Monday, July 25, on Calle El Cape Pescador with activities for children, and the next day on Grandfather’s Day. with the tribute to the elders of the municipality.
At 8:00 p.m., Plaza de Santa Ana celebrates Grandfather’s Day with the musical show ‘Vale+’ by Isabel González, a tribute to the elders of the municipality.
On July 16, at 6:30 a.m., the day begins in the Parish of Santa Ana with the Rosario de la aurora and the procession of the Virgen del Carmen to the fishing pier. Traditions will run through El Pozo street with the elaboration and exhibition of salt carpets made by the neighbors.
In the afternoon, at 7:30 p.m., the celebration of the Eucharist and the floral offering to the Virgen del Carmen will take place on the fishing pier, sung by the Choir of the Parish of Santa Ana and the recognition of the fishermen by the Brotherhoods with the interpretation of “El Pescador” by Fran Hernández.
Next, the boat of the Virgin, maritime procession, fireworks display and return to the Parish of Santa Ana through the carpeted streets accompanied by the Las Candelas Music Band.
The next day, Sunday, July 17, the popular sardine and Popular Dance of the Day of Carmen will take place with the Columbia Orchestra.
On Tuesday, July 26, Candelaria prepares to live a special day. The festive parade of the Youth Band of bugles and drums of Güímar will announce the Festivity of Santa Ana and San Joaquín through the streets of Santa Ana and Candelaria Casco. A day in which the Eucharist will be held presided over by Monsignor Bernardo Álvarez Afonso, bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense and will have the musical accompaniment of the Villa de Candelaria Choir and the Las Candelas Chamber Orchestra.
