The streets of the historic center of Mogán have once again dressed up and welcomed people from all over the island to celebrate the Pilgrimage-Ofrenda to San Antonio El Chico, after two years of absence forced by the pandemic. Nearly 4.000 people, fourteen carts and fourteen parrandas and folk groups participated in this traditional festival, one of the longest in Gran Canaria.
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The pilgrimage began at 18:30 p.m. led by the goat herd from the Los Llanos area, continuing the journey along the main highway and San José street to the Sarmiento y Coto square, where this year the offering to the Patron Saint of the Moganeros and Moganeras, since the Nicolás Quesada Park, a common location in recent years, is undergoing work for its complete renovation.
At the same time, from 19:00 p.m., the Romero Mass was celebrated, performed on this occasion by members of the El Mocán Folkloric and Cultural Group and other neighbors. At the end, the mayor of Mogán, Onalia Bueno, together with the Municipal Corporation, faithful and the ringing of the bells, accompanied the image of San Antonio El Chico to the portico of the bicentennial church. Bueno and Government councilors made an offering of fruit and flowers to San Antonio on behalf of the City Council.
Then, the procession made up of fourteen bus carts from the municipality headed to the square to make the multiple offerings in which the local products grown in the municipality as well as the seafood caught by the sailors of Mogan prevailed. Meanwhile, on the stage installed for this purpose, the parties and groups dedicated songs and dances typical of our folklore to the Saint.
The Pilgrimage-Ofrenda to San Antonio El Chico in Mogán stands out for the motifs that the carts carry and that are designed each year by the neighbors of the participating neighborhood groups. They are traditional objects made on a large scale in which ingenuity and color prevail. However, this edition the motifs have been reused from previous years, since due to COVID-19 the celebration of the event was up in the air a few months ago and, therefore, the time for its creation would not have been enough. The El Molino cart has indeed debuted an allegory, given that they had already prepared it for the 2020 pilgrimage that could not be celebrated.
Following the goat herd came an ice cream cart with more than 700 mille-feuilles, which were distributed among those present. After these Los Navarros carrying a padlock, Barranquillo Andrés y Soria a fucha and Playa de Mogán with its usual wafer, which this year carried a 43 kilo tuna and 15 kilos of mackerel.
La Humbridilla also participated with a moving hand windmill, Las Casillas with a hand of bananas, Molino de Viento with an oil lantern, which was also “lit”, El Hornillo, El Palmito and El Cercado with a sugar bowl, La Vistilla with a plow, Veneguera with a whip, El Pueblo with a bar of soap, Los Romeros with a tin toy car, Los Artesanos and Los Tartaneros with a roulette wheel and Los Parranderos with a box of cigars.
Music and dance accompanied each of the carts during the journey and the hand offering of the Parranda Tinguara-Teverite, La Villa Folkloric Group, Guayajares Parranda, La Billarda del Cruce de Arinaga Folkloric Association and ACB Amigos del Carrizal 7 Islas , Parranda El Vino, Parranda Cono Sur Ahorén, Guayadeque Folkloric Group, Friends of the Islanders Parranda, Los Pescadores de Arguineguín Folkloric Group, Parranda Veneguera, Ágora Parranda, Sataute Folkloric Group, party typical of Los Artesanos and Los Tartaneros and El Estampío.
After 23:00 p.m. the delivery of offerings to San Antonio El Chico ended, who returned inside the temple where hundreds of pilgrims sang the song of 'Los Pajaritos', being especially emotional for the Moganeros and Moganeras, who have waited three years to relive this moment in communion.
The party continued with a Taifa Dance in Plaza Sarmiento y Coto with the island parties El Mejunje and Pajullo, and a festival on San José Street with Armonía Show and Paco Guedes.
The event was broadcast live on Radio Television Mogán. Also on their Facebook and YouTube profiles and the City Council's Facebook profile.
Sunday and Monday, Saint Anthony's Day
On the morning of this Sunday the 12th, boys, girls and young people can enjoy the playground with inflatables, video games and workshops located on San José Street and in Sarmiento y Coto Square. At 18:00 p.m., there will be the Bajada de La Rama with the Agaete Band and La Charanga de La Aldea, while at night, at 22:30 p.m., the Rock & Roll Concert will take place on San José Street. Star with the groups: La Guardia, Danza Invisible, La Frontera and Tennessee.
Tonight there will also be a festival with the Rio Sol group at the Tahona Sociocultural Club as well as fireworks typical of the 'Vespers Night' when the clock strikes twelve. Next, in Plaza Sarmiento y Coto, a dawn party with Grupo Arena and DJs Juacko and Sammito.
On Monday, June 13, the mass and procession will be celebrated in honor of San Antonio de Padua, which will not miss the popular 'Canto de Los Pajaritos' as well as the blessing of the bread and lilies. The program will end with the group Mariachi Peleón and Mara Pérez at the El Mocán Cultural Center, at 20:00 p.m.