The images capture celebrations of great cultural value from the north of Tenerife such as the Auto of the Three Wise Men of Tejina, one of the oldest manifestations of popular theatre that are preserved in Canary Islands and that was recently declared an Asset of Cultural Interest; the livestock fairs, the descent of the cisco and the pot of the popular orotavense nucleus of La Florida. All this and much more seen through the privileged lens of Isidro Felipe Acosta.
The Casa de la Cultura de San Agustín de La Orotava is hosting an exhibition by the photographer Isidro Felipe Acosta, Festivals and traditions of the North of Tenerife, until the 30th, which includes over fifty snapshots of the work developed by the author in the last decade where he has portrayed the main festive events, possibly the largest collection of northern cultural traditions.
Image of the exhibition that will be on display until the 30th at the Casa de la Cultura in San Agustín. / ISIDRO FELIPE ACOSTA
The author highlights that he benefits from the “tremendous variety of celebrations” on Tenerife. In this exhibition, he pays special attention to the carnivals, with the ritual of the Mataculebra and the marathon Mascarita ponte tacón of Puerto de la Cruz, the Choperico in Los Silos and the traditional piñata of Teno Alto. The solemnity of the town’s Holy Week, the Dance of the Flowers – one of the gems of Canary musical folklore – and the Pilgrimage of San Marcos de Tegueste and its peculiar carts lead to the month of May, highlighting the three devotional milestones of Los Realejos, with special reference to its Crosses and Fires.
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But there is much more in Isidro Felipe Acosta’s exhibition at the Casa de la Cultura de San Agustín: the different liveries of the island – El Palmar in Buenavista, Valle de Guerra and Tegueste – and celebrations such as the battle of the boats in La Guancha in honour of the Virgin of the Rosary and again in Tegueste the festival of the Virgin of Remedies. Also portrayed are the fire horses of La Laguna, the devil and the she-devil of the Angustias in Icod de los Vinos, the impressive Christ of Tacoronte and the rites related to the celebration of San Andrés. Special mention must be made of the pots and chestnuts in Los Realejos, the boards in Icod and the water fireworks in Caleta de Interián.
