The Southeast Fair is a great showcase of traditions and generational change

 

The Southeast Fair celebrated its big day today. The town of Ingenio is, until this Sunday, the protagonist of the meticulous work of artisans from the three municipalities that make up the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Southeast, the work of farming families and the musical and traditional legacy that has been promoted for almost 20 years. the Shire.

 

 

 

 

Although the main objective of the fair is to highlight the high quality of local products and give families the possibility of selling their items, one of the pillars of this meeting is to show and maintain the traditions of the region, both in which refers to craftsmanship, such as the traditional way of growing and producing products such as cheese or wine.

 

In that sense, the Southeast Fair is undoubtedly the perfect showcase so that artisan work such as basket weaving, pottery or openwork is not lost. For the caladora María Concepción Pérez, “the most important thing is that the tradition is maintained”, which is why she is in the Association of Caladoras de la Villa de Ingenio (ACVI), made up of a group of artisans that defends calado as an artisanal activity. traditional with deep roots and promotes its visibility so that it is not lost.

 

 

 

 

 

Concha, as it is called in its surroundings, has been making for many years and that is why it regrets that citizens no longer have as much interest in the craft as before: “it is no longer sold or ordered as much as it was a few years ago,” says this shell maker. that she learned as a child, paying attention to how the women in her family looked and that she now tries to teach the youth so that the tradition is not lost.

 

 

 

In her case, the generational change seems to be guaranteed with her grandson Eyezel, 10 years old, who accompanies her at the Southeast Fair and who has already begun to follow in his grandmother's footsteps with his first openwork scarves. 

 

Concha learned making cheese when she was a child, but Soraya Sánchez, from the Arquegrán cheese factory, learned to make cheese when she married her husband, the owner of the business. “At first I didn't know anything about cheese, but now I understand a lot, I know how to make it and I know the whole process,” she says.

 

His three children, however, have known livestock farming and how to make cheese since they were little, although it seems that it is the youngest who has plans to continue with the family business. “She loves it, she has her cart to take care of the animals and she gets under the cows, she is not afraid of it,” explains Soraya, who proudly expresses how her son helps her fill the molds of the cheese.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheeses, wines, oil, olives, bread, salt... the municipalities of the southeast are great growers of products as varied as these, while maintaining the traditions and popular culture of the island that are manifested through traditional games or disciplines such as basket weaving, pottery, openwork and ceramics, among many others.

 

All of this is on full display these days at the Southeast Fair, which, in addition to showcasing local produce, allows families visiting the fair to enjoy traditional games and children's activities such as the Borondona and Friends Island Songbook performance or workshops where they can learn to dye fabrics with cochineal. The livestock show will also delight the children who come to Carrizal, who this year, as a new feature, can enjoy donkey rides and demonstrations of trained horses and dogs.

 

And all of this, seasoned with the traditional music of the legendary group Los Cochineros, who today took the stage at the Feria del Sureste to encourage the audience that was enjoying the ride with their songs.

 

 

 

 

 

The end of the party

 

Tomorrow the 19th Southeast Fair ends and it does so in style. The cochineal workshop, the Cancionero Isleño Theater and traditional games, this time by the 'La Revoliá' Folklore Group, return to the Parque de los Aromeros to entertain and show the traditions of the area to the boys and girls who visit the fair and they will also be able to enjoy the donkey rides, the livestock fair and the drag and threshing exhibitions.

 

In addition, there will be good cuisine by great restaurant professionals who will prepare recipes related to km0 pastries, combine dishes with wines and cheeses with rum, and offer recipes for old stews and soups.

 

The music will be performed by the repentista Yeray Rodríguez and Conciencia Urbana who will introduce the presentation of recognition to the artisans of the region. Finally, Los Gofiones and Vocal7 will say goodbye to the fair until the next edition.