Candelaria honored the Virgin Mary: faith, traditions, and flowers.
The Canary Islands grandly celebrated the Day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the islands, with a military parade, religious services, concerts, and a traditional athletic race with floral offerings.
"There's something about this" – that's what believers say who come to the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria year after year. And this feeling is hard to explain in words.
It's like a seed you planted and don't expect anything special, but it quietly sprouts. Similarly, faith was revived again in Candelaria on the great day of honoring the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. This year, we celebrate 200 years of the image of the Virgin Mary, which appeared after the flood of 1826 that destroyed the original statue.
The day began at 5 a.m. with the first service in the Basilica. Then services were held every hour until 8 a.m., and another one at 6 p.m. At 9 a.m., the local cultural organization held a traditional meeting of drummers and brought gifts.
At 10:45 a.m., the military parade began. This year, it was moved to the town hall because of construction work in the square. The parade welcomed the representative of the King, the Mayor of Candelaria, and his deputy. Half an hour later, the procession to the Square of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands began, accompanied by an orchestra.
The main event was the solemn service at 12:00 p.m. It was conducted by Bishop Eloy Santiago, and the choir sang and the chamber orchestra played. The service could be watched on a large screen near the town hall.
In his speech, the bishop called for combating xenophobia, violence in any form, and "turbulent political debates" where there is no room for dialogue and understanding.
He also spoke out against the "fundamentalist and ideologized speeches of some Christians who have little in common with the Gospel."
The bishop warned against an environment where "hatred, violence, and intolerance" thrive instead of peace and harmony. The biggest manifestation of this is wars, like in Ukraine or Gaza. He urged people not to be indifferent to these tragedies.
He emphasized that violence "is not so far away, it is in our neighborhoods and homes," especially violence against women and children.
At 1:32 p.m., the statue of the Virgin Mary left the Basilica. The hymn to the Virgin Mary of Candelaria, written by Manuel Díaz Pacheco, sounded, and people shouted: "Long live the Virgin Mary of Candelaria!"
Then the orchestra performed the Anthem of the Canary Islands, and the statue, decorated with flowers, circled the square accompanied by soldiers in historical uniforms and the Civil Guard.
The procession ended with fireworks at 2:03 p.m.
The celebration was attended by representatives of authorities at various levels: the President of the Canary Islands, government advisors, the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, the Vice President of the Cabildo of La Gomera, mayors of many cities, consuls of various countries, representatives of the army, the Civil Guard, and the police.
In the evening, there was a concert of folk music. At 9:30 p.m., a concert "Music and Traditions of the Islands in Honor of the Virgin Mary" took place on the stage near the town hall, with the participation of famous artists and dance groups from all the islands.
Due to the heat, weekends, and vacations, there were fewer people than usual, but the devotion of the believers remained unchanged. Candelaria once again celebrated its Great Day, where traditions, faith, and music intertwined.
Candelaria woke up again to the sound of sneakers and the excited whispers of runners running with faith.
More than 600 athletes set off at dawn from La Granja Park to participate in the XXXIV Athletic Flower Offering – an event that combines sports, traditions, and faith.
The goal was not only physical – to reach the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands to fulfill a promise or reaffirm their faith.
After 11 a.m., the Basilica Square began to fill with applause. The Virgin Mary of Candelaria greeted the runners, who one by one placed bouquets of flowers as a sign of gratitude and respect.
To the shouts of "Long live the Virgin Mary of Candelaria!" and the ringing of bells, the square turned into a sea of colors and emotions.
This year's event was marked not only by sportsmanship but also by solidarity. Many participants ran in support of charities, showing that sports can unite people and give hope.
34 years after its first holding, the Athletic Flower Offering remains one of the most beloved events of the celebration of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, uniting believers, athletes, and residents in one rhythm that beats every year.