FIESTAS

The Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves has its origin in a deep religious fervor that the palm tree has shown for the Marian image, to which it has resorted against all kinds of calamities: volcanic eruptions, droughts, plagues, famines, fires or shipwrecks, nothing escapes his intercessory favor. The Bajada was founded every five years in 1676 by the Bishop of the Canary Islands Bartolomé García Ximénez, it will not be until 1680 when its first edition is held. After several centuries of complex evolution, the Bajada has seen some of its program events modified or its dates of celebration have advanced until it reaches its current state. During the first two weeks of July, the preparatory functions for the transfer of the image from its sanctuary to the heart of the old city take place in different parts of the city.

Among the shows and popular rejoices, the pilgrimage or descent of the image's silver throne along the aforementioned El Planto royal road; Traditional music, traditional costumes and gastronomic rituals are not lacking.

Among the nocturnal ones, the Pandorgas parade: thousands of wooden lanterns and colored paper are illuminated by the soft glow of a candle. As in many other Canarian festive celebrations, the dances of masks (also known as giants and big heads) are not absent, which in Santa Cruz de La Palma have characters of exclusive local prosapia: Biscuit, the Mendoza, the Moon of Valencia or the Asthmatic.

The Dance of Acrobats simulates the fantastic world of circus exercises with the performance of young clappers engaged in contortions, pirouettes and capers that suspend the hearts of the spectators.

The Minué, an 18th-century festival, recreates the sumptuousness and elegance of the 18th-century Rococo: 24 young couples dance the melodies of the minuet in rooms of Versailles taste, a piece created specifically for the occasion by local musicians.

The Carro Alegorico y Triunfal, with deep Baroque roots, proclaims the Bajada, in textual creations also set to music by the secular cast of authors from the island or linked to it.

Magic is reserved for the quintessential number of festivals, which popular lore has ended up turning into a sign and sign of identity, is undoubtedly the show on Thursday of the Semana Grande: the Dance of los Enanos. Before the attentive gaze of those around them, who crowd the sidewalks, a group of men dressed each time with a different allegory (Vikings, cardinals, minstrels, etc.) performs an initial dance; In a few seconds, the men transform into tiny dwarves who dance a frenetic choreography; Then the applause of the audience begins, as they witness the sagacity and mischief of the Lilliputian characters in amazement.

Finally the entrance of the Virgin into the city, on the second Sunday of the month, is celebrated with all solemnity with the contest of dialogues, praises and liturgies. After just under three weeks in the Parish of El Salvador, the Virgin returns on August 5 to her Sanctuary of Mount and the palm trees will await her return for another five years.