“I am checking everyone to see if they are well dressed.” Bárbara García is the coordinator of the folk group of the Asociación de Mayores Nuevo Renacer of Puerto de la Cruz, and this Sunday, June 1st, participated with the rest of its members in the revival of the town’s Paseo Romero Marítimo.
This festival stopped being celebrated in 2022 and this year has received a new boost from the Town Hall and members of the Asociación Casco Antiguo. “We have a teacher who always talks to us about the importance of wearing the complete outfit, without sneakers or things like that, so that we all look great, not in costume,” she added.
May Festivals
Bárbara and her nearly 50 companions, including musicians and dancers, were in charge of opening the parade on an afternoon marked by the usual “panza de burro” (typical overcast sky), and indeed, everything went “perfectly.”
The weekend of celebrations for Día de Canarias concluded in Puerto de la Cruz on a high note, a festival born from an idea of a local resident, Antonio Marrero, who one day decided to join his friends, bring a cart from Los Realejos, and organize the first party that gave rise to this tradition.
El Día
This Sunday, many tourists were surprised by this festival, which brought together numerous locals dressed in traditional outfits, with 12 carts and 13 folk groups in a parade starting from Avenida Aguilar y Quesada, next to Las Pirámides Shopping Center. “We practice twice a week, and we’re very happy that the Town Hall offered us this cart to participate again,” García added.
Fishing Past
The paseo romero started late but with the collaboration of local police officers, who managed traffic as the festival passed by. Many carts proudly featured maritime motifs, like nets and buoys, symbols of a not-so-distant fishing past. Even the iconic Casablanca Apartments, some of the oldest in the tourist city, had their own cart.
The young María Cristina Déniz with her cows. / Andrés Gutiérrez
The young María Cristina Déniz, just 16 years old and from La Laguna, starred in one of the most impressive scenes of the celebrations, guiding a yoke with determination. With great skill, she led Morena and Hermosa, two cows from her family, at the forefront of the parade. “My grandfather has always attended this paseo romero, and this year, as he is getting older, my mother and I have come, the tradition continues,” she said with pride.
Noble Animals
Many festival-goers and more than a few tourists wanted to take photos with María Cristina, who was also perfectly dressed for the occasion. She, in turn, spoke about the noble character of these impressive animals. “They are very gentle, and these are a bit nervous because they are still young, but they are as noble as a dog, and it’s easy to handle them.”
El Día
Although it is still a small parade, the Paseo Romero Marinero de Puerto de la Cruz is the materialization of the residents’ desire to showcase and preserve their traditions. In a town that has been receiving tourists from all over the world for over half a century, it seems justified to also strive to keep these customs alive.
Musical Groups
The following groups were in charge of livening up the parade, which extended to the fishing pier: La Guanchería, Fanfarria Puerto Cruz, Agrupación Los Dóniz, Grupo Carmelo Encinoso, Parranda San Andrés, Parranda El Perenquén, Parranda Los Jueves, Parranda Zurrón Guanche, Parranda La Cuartita, Agrupación Solajero, Parranda de la Tercera Edad, Araucaria, Agrupación San Luis de Santa Úrsula.
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