Last Thursday night, at 8:00 PM, the large family of the Folkloric Group Los Campesinos celebrated the event titled "Canarian Christmas - Heartfelt Peasant," held at the centennial Sociedad Democracia in Arrecife, which was completely packed.
The event was conceived as a space for the convergence of music, dance, and tradition, structured in two clearly differentiated parts, both imbued with identity, emotion, and deep cultural roots.
The first part, under the title "Canarian Christmas," offered a tour of traditional Christmas carols from the Canarian cultural heritage, compiled, preserved, and passed down by the group throughout its more than six decades of history. These performances were accompanied by the participation of their dancers, who, through dance, contribute to keeping alive the cultural expressions unique to the Christmas season in the islands.
In this section, Los Campesinos performed the Christmas carols "Vamos a escuchar al Viento," by musician and composer Benito Cabrera, "Venid Pastorcitos," "Lo Divino," "Ha nacido un Niño," and "Ven conmigo Pastorcito," interweaving them with two pieces of traditional Canarian folklore: Isa and Seguidillas, achieving a carefully crafted and emotional staging.
The second part of the event then began, titled "Campesino de Corazón" (Peasant at Heart), conceived as a sincere tribute and institutional recognition to member Tomás Villalba. With this event, the group wished to publicly thank him for a lifetime dedicated to the preservation of its history and legacy, highlighting his example of commitment, perseverance, and dedication to popular culture. His 55 years as a dancer represent not only an exemplary personal career but also a valuable testament to continuity and intergenerational transmission
Next, a video was shown that captured very significant moments from Tomás Villalba's life, from his beginnings to the present day. After the screening, Davis García, a member of Los Campesinos, gave an emotional reading of thanks on behalf of the entire group. Immediately after, his colleagues presented him with a gift consisting of a photograph of Tomás Villalba accompanied by a commemorative inscription. It was a moment filled with great emotion, broken by the warm and prolonged applause from both his colleagues and the attending audience
The event continued with the performance of two beloved pieces of traditional folklore: Folías and Malagueñas, in which Tomás Villalba himself also participated, receiving a well-deserved ovation.
The touch ensemble was led by Professor Carmelo Pérez, while the artistic direction and staging were handled by the director of Los Campesinos, Miguel Ángel Corujo, far exceeding the programmed objectives.
The Folkloric Group Los Campesinos expressed their gratitude to the Arrecife City Council for their permanent support and collaboration, as well as to the Sociedad Democracia, whose support, participation, and closeness make it possible for our traditions not only to be preserved but to remain alive and present in the community. The mayor, Yonathan de León, María Ascensión Toledo, Education counselor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, and the president of the Sociedad Democracia, Luis Miranda, supported the peasant family with their presence.
With the Christmas carol "Tres reyes Magos," the final touch was put on a night where tradition, emotion, and friendship were the main protagonists. At the end of the event, Los Campesinos invited the audience to taste the traditional sweet potato trout and mantecados, artisan sweets, typical of these Christmas holidays.