La Laguna has been filled with creativity in the days leading up to La Noche de las Tradiciones de las Fiestas del Cristo (The Night of Traditions of the Cristo Festivities), thanks to the workshops on making fire horses, an activity that has brought together young and old from the historic city every afternoon. With the collaboration of the Cultural Heritage and Festivals departments, as well as the Old Town Neighbourhood Association, this activity will have its big day this Saturday (13 September), when more than 400 schoolchildren and residents will take part in the Pandorga and Fire Horses Parade through the centuries-old streets of La Laguna. On this occasion, the event will increase its visibility by being included in the Heritage Night programme, an international event organised simultaneously by the 15 World Heritage cities in Spain.

The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, highlighted the human value of workshops that ‘represent the soul of our El Cristo festivities, where not only ornamental elements are created, but also bonds, memories and a sense of belonging. This initiative reinforces the goal of passing on our traditions from generation to generation, strengthening the bond between citizens and their history.’

‘Seeing young people so involved in creating the fire horses is encouraging, as it not only revives a traditional festive event, but also highlights its value as part of La Laguna’s intangible heritage. It is an exciting example of how tradition is passed on with the hands and the heart,’ added the mayor.

The Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, thanked the neighbourhood association and the educational community that has joined in the preparation of this parade, in which the 70 Aguere Scout Group and the CEIP Prácticas Aneja, Santa Rosa de Lima Las Dominicas, Camino de La Villa, Santa Rosa de Lima de Guamasa, Aguere, Máyex and Buen Consejo La Laguna schools are participating.

Cordobés highlighted the impact of the fire horses on the dissemination of heritage, ‘an educational tool that allows young people to actively learn about our roots. It is heritage in action, experienced from within and shared with the community; a fusion of cultural heritage and citizen participation, all in an environment in which we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage City’.

For his part, the Councillor for Festivals, Dailos González, celebrated the public’s involvement in this initiative, ‘which has had an extraordinary response and where each horse reflects the effort and enthusiasm of those who created it. These workshops have turned the preparations for La Noche de las Tradiciones into a real pre-party, where our culture comes alive from the very first minute’.

Both councillors highlighted how this collaboration between Heritage Night and the Cristo Festivities not only enriches both celebrations, but also consolidates a shared vision, where tradition and contemporary culture can coexist, dialogue and strengthen each other. They also appreciated that Heritage Night is an important boost and international showcase for the tangible and intangible heritage of La Laguna, including this tradition so deeply rooted in local culture.

In fact, the origin of this event could be related to the equestrian ornaments made in the late Middle Ages and early Modern Age for commemorations and tributes. Today, it is also celebrated in other parts of the Canary Islands and in some Spanish towns and Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Venezuela, with which La Laguna has a notable historical connection.

A massive parade through streets with five centuries of history

The result of this joint effort by schoolchildren and local residents will be showcased in the Pandorga and Caballitos de Fuego Parade, which will wind its way through the streets of the historic quarter starting at 8 p.m. this Saturday, beginning at Plaza de La Concepción and ending at Plaza del Cristo.

In addition to all the participants and the central elements of the parade, the route will be accompanied by giants, big-heads, bands and fanfares, recalling the splendour and colourfulness of the origins of this event. The San Miguel de La Laguna and A.M. Nazarenos de Tejina bands will take part, as well as the Los Silos Fanfare.

The Night of Traditions will continue at 9 p.m. on the main stage in Plaza del Cristo, with tributes to Alberto Mesa Perera (Pancho) and Agustín David Hernández Mesa (Lito) for their essential work in promoting the festivals of the towns and neighbourhoods of La Laguna, as well as to Tita Rodríguez and Pina Rodríguez de Milán for their contribution to the musical folklore of the Canary Islands.

It will also include performances by Achamán, the Pieles Company and the Canarian Percussion Group, as well as dance couples representing the municipality’s folklore groups.

And all this will be reinforced by the extensive cultural programme of Heritage Night, which combines traditions with contemporary dance, documentary screenings, the recovery of audiovisual memory and guided tours of emblematic monuments, among other activities. The entire programme is free and open until full capacity is reached, and can be consulted on the website 25aniversario.aytolaguna.es.