A small rock in the Atlantic: 10/05/09

Saturday, 16 May 2009

San Isidro Livestock Fair

Saint Isidore the Laborer

This weekend they're holding the second biggest livestock fair on the island, at San Isidro, in Breña Alta. (The biggest is San Antonio del Monte, in June).

It starts off with a procession which brings the statue of the saint from the church to the fairground. Sorry, I missed that bit (I was having a lie in)

Cattle at the fair of St. Isidore, Breña Alta

People bring their animals, and there are prizes for the best milk cow, best bull, best goat, etc. Most of the animals are tied up in big field while they wait for the judging, and you can go around admiring them. (I hope someone brings them water later.) The priest blesses the animals, and they have a competition to see which bulls can drag a heavy stone the fastest. (I missed that, too. I was teaching.) Later on tonight they'll be a dance.

Tomorrow they have bouncy castles for the kids, a cycle race, and a horse race. And at 8:30 pm, a procession takes the statue of the saint back to the church.

Labels: Breña Alta, fiesta, May 15th, San Isidro

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Thursday, 14 May 2009

The Virgin of Fatima in La Punta

Mass for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Mass for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta

Last night I went to the fiesta for The Virgin of Fatima in La Punta, in the municipality of Tijarafe. Things didn't go according to plan (see my personal blog, but I had a good time.

Procession for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Procession for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Procession

La Punta is just a hamlet. Like most small villages, the main annual fiesta is the saint's day of the village's patron saint. Practically all such fiestas include a special mass and a procession with the statue of the saint, and so did this one.

Living Picture for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Living Picture for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Living Picture

Most fiestas include something else, which varies from village to village. Tijarafe town all told me that there wasn't anything else at La Punta, but they had a living picture, which someone gave a short speech in honour of the Virgin.

Fireworks for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Fireworks for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Fireworks

And then we had fireworks. Rather good ones in my opinion, considering the size of the place.

Dance for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

Dance for the Virgin of Fatima, La Punta, la palma

The Dance Floor

And the dance was just getting started as I left. I had to get up this morning. Since they have today off work they probably partied until 2 am at least.

Labels: fiestas, la punta, tijarafe, Virgin of Fatima