On 15th August, the town of Candelaria welcomed the celebrations in honour of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. The day began with the arrival of His Majesty the King’s representative, Lieutenant General Julio Salom, who was warmly greeted by Candelaria’s mayor, María Concepción Brito. The event was graced by the presence of various civilian and military authorities, including the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo.
The military ceremony commenced with a salute to the Royal representative by an Honours Unit comprising a squadron from the Canary Islands Air Command, a Music Unit from the Canary Islands Command, the 16th ‘Canarias’ Brigade War Band No. 2, a section from the 49th ‘Tenerife’ Infantry Regiment, a section from the 93rd Field Artillery Regiment, and a section from the 16th Sapper Battalion.
Following this, the Royal representative, escorted by the general of the 16th Canary Islands Brigade, Ricardo Esteban, and the captain of the Honours Unit, Pablo García, inspected the troops. Subsequently, they greeted the gathered civilian and military dignitaries before the military parade commenced. The attendees then proceeded to the Basilica, where a Holy Mass was held by the bishop of the Nivariense Diocese, Bernardo Álvarez.
After the church service, the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands was ceremoniously paraded around the Basilica square, accompanied by a squad of spenders in historical uniforms, as well as the civilian and military authorities and the numerous faithful followers present.
