18 GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN <strong>29</strong> 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 <strong>Gran</strong> <strong>Canaria</strong>. 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 <strong>Gran</strong> <strong>Canaria</strong>, 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 <strong>Gran</strong> <strong>Canaria</strong> 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 <strong>Gran</strong> <strong>Canaria</strong>, 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.
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