The most awaited day of the year in The Realejos approaches. The municipality will show tomorrow, May 3, 2023, more than 300 decorated crosses and will say goodbye to the day with one of the largest fireworks displays in Europethe fire pit between the streets of El Medio and El Solthat before they will have boasted of the best floral bower possible for the crosses in their chapels. This popular festival is made with “the dogs of the cross”, the contributions of neighbors who throughout the year finance the purchase of flowers and other elements that embellish the logs, and also Fireworks that will illuminate a night that smells of gunpowder.
Each cross of Los Realejos will be a reason for attention tomorrow. Present in chapels, facades, temples, private houses, streets, cliffs, serventías, paths or viewpoints, in their day they are branched and embellished as a tribute to the main symbol of Christianity. Thousands of residents and visitors walk the streets of the town to contemplate this exhibition of ephemeral art that, in the case of the neighborhood of the holy cross, even enters houses that on this day are open to strangers to proclaim their faith. «Many neighbors proudly receive those who visit them and invite them with wine and some delicacy from the royal confectionery», highlights the mayor, Adolfo González (PP).
The president recalls that “after the annual countdown that announces the day of the crossthe festive day is full of activity from early on, with the ringing of bells from the tower of theto the Parish of the Apostle Santiagoand from then on thousands of visitors will come to our town, which awaits you with open arms to share the inherited tradition of floral and firework offerings to the Holy Cross.
It’s a day for walk, enjoy and sharewith key moments such as the mass at 11:30, in the Parish of Santiago Apóstoland the later procession and fireworks. A preview of the most exciting and expected moment: the nocturnal procession of the Holy Cross, to which El Sol and El Medio streets pay, and compare, their fiery homage. A tour that allows El Sol street to star in the first part of the great fireworks display, by the realejera Pyrotechnics Hermanos Toste. After the always intense and exciting transfer of the cross to the porters of El Medio street, on the line of La Pila streetthe second part of the exhibition arrives, with the Hermanos Caballer fireworks, from Valencia.
The windows, balconies, rooftops and patios are filled with realejeros and visitors who, after a long day, enjoy a fire pit whose origins dating back to the 18th century. If the weather is good, they can be seen from almost any corner of the Valley and, regardless of the distances or the clouds, they will surely shine on the page of Facebook of the Department of Tourism Los Realejos with the five senses, which will broadcast them live.
24 hour party
00:00 hours. The end of the countdown of the days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining until May 3 reaches zero and is celebrated with a huge street party, which this year will include a mapping video.
7:00 a.m.. The ringing of bells from the tower of the Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago marks the beginning of the day in the streets.
10:00 a.m.. The Gastronomic Fair begins in Plaza Viera y Clavijo, and groups of visitors from different parts of the island also arrive as part of the Discover Los Realejos tourist program.
10:30 a.m.. The free tourist transfers will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m., with stops at Avenida de los Remedios, Plaza de Calle El Medio, Calle Doctor González, and Plaza de La Cruz Santa.
11:30 a.m. The Parish of Santiago Apóstol offers mass in honor of the Cross at 11:30 am, with a subsequent procession and, upon arrival, the great fireworks from the Plaza de La Unión.
5:00 p.m.. The parades of the Realejos Fanfare will take place on El Medio and El Sol streets and of The Vid Band on La Cruz Santa, where folkloric parrandas will be added.
6:00 p.m.. There will be a new parade between El Sol and El Medio, by the 101 Brass Band, giants and big heads.
10:00 p.m.. The Holy Cross leaves in procession again from the Parish of the Apostle Santiago. Visit the chapel on Calle El Sol in the first instance, from where the first part of the fireworks display begins. It will continue towards El Medio street, after changing hands at the line.
00:30 hours. After midnight, the fireworks display ends, the cross returns to the temple and the countdown starts again until May 3, 2024.
The patron saint of Porto
Cross port tomorrow also celebrates the day of its patron saint, the Holy Cross, adorning about 130 crosses distributed throughout the municipality, in public and private spaces, and around 30 chapels. On the Day of the Cross, families, groups and entities from Porto show their talent and creativity to honor their Patron Saint with ephemeral art displays around the crosses. The events will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the traditional mass in the Las Lonjas chapel, next to the Portuense dock, a prelude to the Eucharist at 11:00 a.m., in which Mayor Marco González will act as prioste. At 12:00 the procession of the Holy Cross will be held through Quintana, Santo Domingo and La Marina streets; the fishing pier and the esplanade of the Santa Bárbara Battery, and Agustín de Betancourt, Luis de la Cruz, San Juan and, again, Quintana streets.
