No. 29 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

18
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 29
The 541st annual Fiestas Mayores
de Santiago in Gáldar
The Fiestas Mayores de Santiago are traditional
celebrations that take place in the charming town
of Gáldar, located in the north of Gran Canaria.
This must-see northern municipality has, among
its many attractions, no less than 13 declared Sites
of Cultural Interest (BIC for its acronym in Spanish),
a journey that began in a pioneering fashion
back in 1949. In 2022, the 50th anniversary of the
declaration of the Cueva Pintada archaeological
museum as an Asset of Cultural Interest was
celebrated, and included activities organised by
the Historical Heritage Service, the Department
of the Presidency of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria,
and the Gáldar Town Council. The 75th anniversary
of the recognition of La Guancha, El Agujero
and Bocabarranco, the oldest archaeological sites
in the Canary Islands, will be added to this event
in 2024.
The Fiestas Mayores de Santiago, which are held
in honour of the town’s patron saint, Santiago
Apóstol (Saint James the Apostle), are a time of
joy, colour and devotion that attracts locals and
visitors from far and wide. This year, the 541st
Fiestas Mayores de Santiago will be celebrated
throughout the month of July, filling the streets
and squares of the city with a festive atmosphere.
The different processions hold aloft the carving of
Santiago Apostle as they make their way through
the main streets of Gáldar, accompanied by the
music of local bands and the devotion of the gathering
faithful. In addition to the Pilgrimage, there
are also important events this year, including the
Float Parade, the Battle of Flowers, the Rama, the
Night of Fires and Video-mapping, the Concert by
the Municipal Band, the Volcán Anunciador, the
Procession, the Caballitos de Fuego, the Livestock
Fair and the Election of the Guayarmina and the
Bentejuí.
The town crier this year was María Josefa Monzón
García, a journalist who has been attending the
Fiestas Mayores de Santiago since her childhood.
She remembers going with her parents, namely
teacher, researcher, poet and Favourite Son of
Gáldar, Sebastián Monzón Suárez, and Angélica
García Álamo, a dearly beloved figure from neighbouring
Agaete, to events such as the Romería or
the Batalla de Flores. She has covered every single
edition of the Fiestas Mayores de Santiago as a
journalist since 1994.
Taking a stroll around Gáldar at fiesta time
In July, the streets of the city are adorned with
colourful decorations, and the different squares
are converted into stages for music, dance and
live performances. This year, Gáldar welcomes top
guest artists such as Pastora Soler, Joseph Fonseca,
El Taiger, El Vega, Rosa López, Merche, La
Década Prodigiosa, Edwin Rivera, Los Gofiones
and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Symphonic
Orchestra.
One of the highlights of the Fiestas Mayores de
Santiago de Gáldar is the well-known Battle of
Flowers, which involves balls of confetti being
thrown at the young and not so young. It is a joyful
and colourful spectacle that fills every corner
of the town with life. And of course, let's not forget
the Caballitos de Fuego, a festival that was revived
in 2015 and whose last news dates back to
1848. Crowds of locals gallop towards the Chruch
of Santiago with their Caballitos de Fuego, smallscale
horses made in the workshops organised by
the Town Hall. These horses are structures that are
surrounded around the body with a platform in
sheet metal and cardboard, with skirts and a crest
made of recycled and colourful material to make
them particularly eye-catching. Together with the
papagüevos (large, papier-maché models) music
bands and lanterns, they brighten up the streets
of the town.
In addition to the festive activities, the Fiestas
Mayores de Santiago de Gáldar offer a wide variety
of sports events, traditional competitions and
cultural exhibitions that showcase the rich history
and traditions of the region. Visitors can also enjoy
a selection of delicious Canary gastronomy at the
many restaurants in the town.
Las Fiestas Mayores de Santiago de Gáldar are
much more than a religious celebration; they are
a time for the community to come together, to
celebrate and share their love for their town and
its traditions. These festivities highlight Gáldar's
identity and enable locals and visitors to immerse
themselves in the rich Canary culture in a festive
and welcoming environment.
Teodoro Sosa, Mayor of Gáldar, points out that
"these are festivities that Gáldar is looking forward
to with great excitement, I would even say we are
tinged with nerves, because this city has raised the
level of its cultural and festive agenda so high that
not only our local residents, but also all the people
of Gran Canaria, are eagerly looking forward to
every last detail of our festivities. This is because,
in recent years, we have really raised the bar in the
month of July. All the roads of the island, and even
of the Canary Islands, lead to Gáldar this month".
For all these reasons, the mayor encourages fiesta-goers
to be mindful of traditions, to devote
themselves to their Patron Saint, to experience the
Fiestas with intensity.
If you get the chance to visit Gáldar during the Fiestas
Mayores de Santiago, then don’t hesitate. You
will be surrounded by music, dance, flowers and
joy, and will be treated to the local hospitality and
the rich culture of this beautiful Canary town.