The Pilgrimage of Los Labradores de Santa Lucía shines between rain, parties and tradition

 

This Sunday, Santa Lucía de Tirajana experienced a very different Romería de los Labradores, with the absence of the image of the Virgin of the Rosary, whose carving is being restored, and the presence of rain, which forced the revelers to take out their umbrellas as well as their timples and guitars. The wet streets of the town did not stop the party, the concoction helped to combat the cold and despite the rain, people danced, sang and ate local products. 

 

 

Two donkeys loaded with mantecados, gofio, corn bread and concoctions and the music of the Parranda del Cura led the Romería de los Labradores (Romería of the Farmers) in Santa Lucía Casco on Sunday. A total of eleven carts and hundreds of revelers made the journey of the last pilgrimage of the year, which this year, in addition to the absence of the Virgin of the Rosary, also missed the delicious olives of Santa Lucía because there was no harvest this year.

 

 

Following the donkeys and the Parranda del Cura were eleven carts: that of Juntos por Santa Lucía, Carreta Atis Tirma, El Carpeta, El Paradero, La Quesera, that of the Festival Committee, that of La Sorrueda, Los Tabucos, La Revoltosa and Amigos de Pepe. The Amigos de Yoni y Manolo and the Parranda del Cura carts did not participate for different reasons. 

 

 

The Festival Committee prepared the products that were distributed from the carts: more than 2.000 mantecados, 100 kilos of gofio, 1.000 liters of concoction, 400 loaves of millet and chochos. For the first time in the history of the Labradores, the delicious Santa Lucía olives were not distributed because there has been no harvest in recent years. 

 

 

The rain accompanied the procession intermittently, where there was no shortage of music, dancing and also club fighting. Most people attended dressed in traditional costumes, and umbrellas had to be used at various times during the procession, which took place in a festive atmosphere with people of all ages. At the end of the procession, the music of the parrandas continued. 

 

 

Mayor Francisco García expressed his satisfaction because “despite the rain, people have maintained the joyful spirit of the festivities, with parties, music and dancing.” García pointed out that “one more year, Los Labradores brings together people from all over the islands, who know that the last pilgrimage of the year is an essential event for all of us who love our traditions.”