Revelry and tradition in the Pilgrimage-Offering to San Antonio El Chico

 

The historic center of Mogán was abuzz this Saturday, June 3, thanks to the Pilgrimage-Offering to San Antonio El Chico, which attracted around 5.000 people from all over Gran Canaria. Fifteen carts and fifteen parrandas and folk groups participated in this great traditional festival that already has more than forty years of history behind it.

 

As usual, the departure of the goat herd from the Los Llanos area marked the beginning of the pilgrimage, which this year began at 18:30 p.m. with a marked festive atmosphere. The tour continued along the main road and San José Street until it connects with Sarmiento y Coto Square, where for the second consecutive year the offering to the Patron of the municipality took place given that the renovation works of the Nicolás Quesada Park are still in progress. course. 

 

The El Mocán Folkloric and Cultural Group, along with other neighbors, was in charge of interpreting the Romero Mass, which started at 19:00 p.m. in the Church of San Antonio de Padua. The ringing of the bells and the cheers of the faithful gathered there accompanied San Antonio to the portico of the temple to receive the offerings. The acting mayor, Onalia Bueno, and councilors of the local government, also in office, were the first to make theirs, consisting of a varied assortment of fruits and vegetables – predominantly grown in the municipality – and also flowers. An emotional Bueno asked the Saint for “a lot of health and work for everyone, love and harmony.” 

 

 

 

Next it was the turn of the delegation made up of fifteen bus carts from the municipality. Each one wore a picturesque motif designed by the neighbors of their corresponding groups. They are made on a large scale and represent traditional objects, highlighting the ingenuity in the materials used, their realistic style and great color.

 

Following the goat herd came the striking ice cream cart, which is almost a century old. This was packed with more than 600 millefeuille that were distributed among those present. Behind this cart came the Association of Rural School Collectives wearing a timple, Los Navarros with a blower bellows, Barranquillo Andrés y Soria with a Roman weight and Playa de Mogán. The latter with its usual wafer, in which they transported 200 kilos of tuna and 10 kilos of mackerel, in addition to a large amount of non-perishable seafood products.

 

Not missing from this event were La Humbridilla with an old cedar box, Las Casillas with a box of prickly pears, Molino de Viento with a lizard, El Hornillo, El Palmito and El Cercado with a jug, La Vistilla with a workshop, Veneguera with a mousetrap, El Pueblo with a canary puppy, Los Romeros with a chest, Los Artesanos y Tartaneros with a package of traditional nougat, and Los Parranderos with a milkmaid.

 

All of these carts were in charge of carrying the generous offerings of the groups to the square, where of course the local products harvested in Mogán were the protagonists and also, as mentioned, the seafood caught by the Mogán fishermen. Everything goes to non-profit organizations.

 

Music and dancing accompanied each of the carts during the journey, but also during the offering from the stage set up in the plaza for this purpose. Canarian songs and dances dedicated to the Patron Saint were carried out by the La Aldea Community Project Foundation, the Association of Rural School Collectives, Friends of Isla Perdida, Los Chanos, La Nueva Lira, Asentaos y Tumbaos, El Botellín, Veneguera, Amigos Isleños, Ágora, that of Artisans and Tartaneros, as well as the Folklore Groups Sombras de Medianías, Argones, Los Pescadores and Tamaima. 

 

Around midnight the delivery of offerings to San Antonio El Chico ended, culminating the pilgrimage with the return of the image inside the church, where the pilgrims gathered to sing the 'Canto de Los Pajaritos', a symbol of these Mogan celebrations. 

 

The party then continued in Sarmiento y Coto square with the Baile de Taifas, which featured the Parranda El Pajullo, and a party with Paco Guedes and DJ Promaster. 

 

The event was broadcast live from 19:00 p.m. to 20:30 p.m. on Televisión Canaria. It was also possible to see this broadcast on Radio Television Mogán.

 

 

 

The Festivities of San Antonio El Chico continue

Starting this Sunday, the program of events will include children's and traditional games, musical and sports exhibitions, tournaments, numerous activities for the youngest members of the family, festivals, concerts and craft markets. 

 

It is worth highlighting the Canarian wrestling masterclass and the Gym Sur club karate exhibition on Monday, June 5, the Artistic Schools Song Festival on the 7th, the Municipal Sports Schools exhibition gala on the 8th or the presentation of the Cultural Walk in the Church of San Antonio de Padua on Friday, June 9. The latter will allow the heritage knowledge of this historic building to be brought closer with audiovisual content through a QR code.

 

Also noteworthy is the craft market that will be set up on San José Street on Saturday, June 10, with the animation of the Tenerife artist El Baraja and Alberto Déniz, a singer from Mogan. This activity will give way to the Bajada de la Rama in the afternoon and, the next day, it will be held again. This time with the performances of Los Salvapantallas, Los 600 and Aseres. At night the 'Young Concert' will take over with La Pantera, an urban artist with hits like 'Cayó la noche' with Quevedo and collaborations with Cruz Cafuné and Bejo. DJs Sammyto and Aitor Cruz will also be there.

 

On Monday the 12th, the streets of the town will become a playground in the morning with water inflatables and a foam party. The so-called 'Evening Night' will begin with a concert by the renowned Spanish pop-rock group Seguridad Social, followed by the traditional fireworks display and the dawn festival with Armonía Show, Leyenda Joven and Dj Maxi.

 

On June 13, Saint Anthony's Day, the solemn Eucharist will be celebrated followed by the procession, which will end with the blessing of the bread and lilies and the popular Song of the Little Birds, symbol and cultural history of the Moganero people. The program will end with a gala starring the Club San Antonio and the El Mocán Cultural Center.