The Pandorga and the Little Horses of Fire, accompanied by giants, big heads, fanfares, the members of the Aguere 70 Scout group and the boys and girls who wanted to join in carrying lanterns or little horses, toured again yesterday afternoon, on the eve of the Day of Christ, the streets of the center of La Laguna, filling them with color and showiness after two years without being able to do so due to the pandemic.
Thus, the parade started, around 8:00 p.m., from Plaza del Doctor Olivera and toured the center of the city through Plaza de la Concepción, Calle Obispo Rey Redondo and Calle Viana, until reaching Plaza del Cristo.
It is a tradition that was recovered in 1996 by the City Council of La Laguna and a group of people interested in reviving this parade, but which has more than a century of tradition in the municipality, and which is currently promoted by the Scout Group Aguere 70, with the collaboration of the local Consistory and the Neighborhood Association of the Historic District.
Made of cane and paper, the Pandorga and the Fire Horses played a unique role in the old Christ Festivals, filling the lagoon streets with colors and fires in a ritual procession that was lost in the mid-20th century, due to the danger involved. fire lights. There are similar parades in other places of the Archipelago, as well as in various Spanish towns and Latin American countries such as Mexico or Venezuela. Its origin could go back to the evolutions and equestrian ornaments made since the Middle Ages in commemorations and tributes.
From the Casco Neighborhood Association, its president, Pablo Reyes, explained that the ultimate objective of the parade was “to attract people from the city center to the Plaza del Cristo for the celebration of the Night of Traditions, with and partying.” That is the reason why the procession leaves “from the Villa de Arriba and reaches the Villa de Abajo, before heading to the Plaza del Cristo”, inviting people to join the parade, since it is “an act very participatory”.
Both the mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, and the Councilor for Fiestas, Badel Albelo, highlighted “the value of this traditional number, which gives prominence to popular participation and is very attractive, with the street as the main stage.” The alderman and the mayor thanked the involvement of the Aguere 70 Scout group and the Casco Neighborhood Association “when defending an act that deserves to be on its own merits among the most prominent in the program of the Fiestas del Cristo”.
The day concluded with the celebration of the Night of Traditions in the Plaza del Cristo, starting at 9:00 p.m., which on this occasion featured performances by the groups Achamán and Taburiente, in a tribute to the figure of José Manuel Torres Afonso, Manolo, a person who throughout his life has been deeply linked to the world of music and folklore and to the festive tradition of the city. There was also room for solidarity with the island of La Palma, one year after the volcanic crisis at Cumbre Vieja, with the collaboration of soloist Ayatimas Brito and Luis Morera himself, vocalist of Taburiente.
today big day
This parade took place on the eve of the big day of the Festivities of Christ, today, September 14, when the tram will also reinforce its service on the occasion of the celebration, also offering a service on demand from the La Trinidad stop once once the traditional fireworks are over, which take place around midnight.
The day begins today with the civic-military procession, with the Royal Banner, from the Town Hall to the Cathedral, with the assistance of the leading civil, military and consular authorities. At approximately 10:45 am, in the Plaza de la Catedral, the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, who holds the official representation of His Majesty the King, is received. After the celebration of the Eucharist, the solemn procession of the return of Christ from La Laguna to his royal sanctuary is celebrated.
In the afternoon, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a campaign mass in the square atrium that precedes the royal sanctuary, presided over by its rector, Víctor Manuel Álvarez, and the musical liturgical accompaniment will be provided by the Achamán Musical Group, Young Sabandeños.
At the end, the procession of the venerated image will be held through the main streets of the center, visiting the convents of the Poor Clare and Catalina nuns. Upon returning to the Plaza del Cristo, around midnight, the image will be placed to contemplate the traditional display of the Fires of the Risco.
