July 25 marks the beginning of Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Celebrations of Our Lady of the Snows) in the fishing village of Agaete, on the island of Gran Canaria. This holiday has been declared of National Tourist Interest in 1972, it lasts until the 17th of August, raising the spirits of everyone, both visitors and residents, with many activities for your enjoyment and entertainment: shows, concerts, performances… and on the 5th, a procession carries the Virgen de las Nieves (the Virgin of the Snows) to the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (Our Lady of the Conception).
But it is on August 4 when the central moment of this popular celebration takes place: La Fiesta de la Rama – The Feast of the Branch. Any person that visits Agaete on August 4, will be completely shocked to see a large crowd of people dancing through the streets with branches of different trees (pine, eucalyptus, pennyroyal…) to the sound of the music of the local band. And they’ll be even more amazed to see big-headed giants that stand out from the dancing crowd with their colors, their realism and their size, known as the papagüevos. These curious characters represent popular personages of Agaete, and most of the time, it is them who are inside the wooden frames, holding the large cardboard head. The papagüevos come spinning and hitting the crowd with their big hands. La Rama begins at dawn with a chupinazo, at ten o’clock the procession through the town begins, ending at the chapel of the port of Las Nieves with the roaring crowd bathing in the sea.
This tradition comes from an ancient rite during which the people of Gran Canaria begged for a year of rain. The Islanders went up to the highlands to make offerings at certain shrines, then cutting branches of trees and heading towards the sea to hit the water with them, simulating rain, thus begging the gods to show mercy and send rain on the fields.
A popular celebration among dancing that each summer brings a greater number of spectators who want to participate in the joy of the people of Agaete. To join music and dancing at this particular fiesta, check this great offer at BlueBay Beach Club, just 54,50 €/night in 1 bedroom apartment.
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