Adeje Folklore Group Reimagines Virgin Mary's Journey in New Film

What Did Those Who Carried the Virgin Hear?

The last rehearsal is always late, and this year it was under a light autumn rain. Under the bright lights of the Plaza de España, as the crowds began to thin, the group from the Municipal School of Folklore of Adeje took the stage. The town was already looking ahead to the main event, saving their energy for the big day.

This year, the Lustral Festivals coincided with the Patron Saint Festivals, blending tradition with lively celebration. At the heart of this special time was "Acervo," a show that recently wrapped up the festivities. It's more than just music and dance; it's a journey into the past, reinterpreting ancient songs collected in the 16th century by Italian engineer Leonardo Torriani. How much do we truly understand about our own heritage?

The Municipal School of Folklore of Adeje, which organizes the Folklore Festival, is celebrating 37 years of experience, much of it spent leading this cultural work.

It started in April 1988 as a small project. Nuria Esther Morales and María Esther Urbano, the founders, remember it well: "We all started as students. Some played music, others danced. We were young and enthusiastic. For that first festival, we didn't even have our own costumes; we borrowed them from La Orotava," they recall.

Conditions were basic. They rehearsed in old buildings, used worn guitars, but they turned folklore into something that brought the community together. "We got involved because we wanted to," says Nuria proudly. "My brother and I arrived with a broken guitar; if one played, the other had to dance."

What began as a training activity became a key part of Adeje's identity. In 1988, they took over organizing the folklore festival, and their passion hasn't faded since.

José Alberto Gómez, the group's musical director, and Sergio Sosa, who leads the dance troupe, have brought a new approach where folklore isn't just a performance but a way of telling stories. "We almost never do a festival that's just singing or dancing," says Gómez. "There's always a theme."

This year, besides "Acervo," the group presented a short film that recreates the popular devotion to the Virgin Mary since the 18th century. The group members became actors, playing the roles of farmers, sailors, and pirates. "We researched what foods they ate back then to use in the performance," they said. The story shows the Virgin's appearance, her capture by fishermen, and her journey to Adeje for protection from pirate attacks. "We don't know if it happened exactly like that, but this short film makes us wonder what those who carried her up those roads heard and felt."

The group has traveled around the island to learn from different towns, studying the "folías" in Arico, the "tanganillos" in Icod el Alto, and other traditional dances. "We've worked with other groups and learned their styles," says Esther happily.

Today, the school has over 100 students, from teenagers of 15 to adults of 78. "Folklore is very much alive in the Canary Islands. It's probably the region where it's most valued in the whole country," says José Alberto.

They don't just sing and dance; they also study, research, and document. One of their most important projects has been recreating the traditional clothing of the Chasna region, based on drawings by British artist Alfred Diston from the 19th century. The mayor, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, encouraged them to consult with artisans like Juan de la Cruz and Luis Dávila, who helped create costumes that accurately reflected daily life at the time, avoiding touristy versions and focusing on clothes that told a story.

"Recovering the clothing is recovering the dignity of our ancestors," says Esther.

For those in the group, the annual festival is like a big, emotional test. They rehearse from May, paying attention to every detail, and showing great respect for the traditions. They also understand the importance of what they're doing.

"We went to Ibiza, and they're just starting their cultural revival now, searching for their identity. We already know who we are," reflects José Alberto. "And that's powerful."

This year, the Cultural Association Nuestra Señora de los Remedios from Ciudad Real, with their performance about Mozarabic weddings in La Mancha, taught a valuable lesson: the differences are only on the surface. The roots are the same.

Finally, there's the story of Quevedo, the urban artist, who included the folklore group Los Gofiones in his end-of-tour concert in Gran Canaria. "That's amazing," says one of the members. "It proves that our traditions aren't just about the past; they're alive and relevant today."

Folklore isn't a dead ritual. In Adeje, it's still a way of preserving our identity and telling our story.