At 11 a.m. this Saturday, the ringing of the bells of the main Church of San Ginés Obispo in Arrecife announced that the Patron Saint was going out in procession. The image was accompanied by the parish priest Juan Carlos Medina and surrounded by the parishioners to be placed next to the entrance to the commercial dock and there receive the 'Musical Offering' from the folk groups that participated the night before in the 'XXX San Ginés Folk Festival 2024'.
At the same time, the groups departed from Cuatro Esquinas singing and dancing before the attentive gaze of the public and that, on this occasion, coinciding with the arrival of a cruise ship, the route along Calle Real until reaching where they were waiting could barely advance because everyone with their photographic cameras and mobile phones in hand wanted to immortalize the moment.
The first to arrive before the image of San Ginés Obispo were the members of the Parranda Marinera de Buches surprising everyone present with their offering that, advised by Rubén Valiente, director of the dance, was in charge of depositing two baskets of pírgano next to the feet of the Patron Saint and upon arrival the members of the dance body that on this occasion were wearing gala attire, they took off their mask and handkerchief, depositing it inside the basket as a sign of respect to San Ginés Obispo. The Buches were created in the Carnival festivities and in their offering they had to get rid of these accessories and thus offer their dance and the song 'Chiquilla Mía'.
Next it was the turn for the representatives of the island of La Gomera, the Hautacuperche Folk Group performing some foíias, highly applauded by the public who despite the prevailing heat did not want to miss what was happening. Later, the representation of the island of Fuerteventura arrived, the Tetir Folk Group. Its members, dressed in peasant clothing, performed a representative piece of the island of Majorera.
The 'Musical Offering' was closed by the members of the Arrecife Choirs and Dances Group, wearing the traditional clothing of Lanzarote from the 18th and 19th centuries. The piece chosen to close the event was an Isa.
Once the 'Musical Offering' was finished, the procession was resumed headed by the image of San Ginés Obispo surrounded by the parish priest Juan Carlos Medina. The participating folk groups and the parishioners, before the Patron Saint passed through the portico of the church, were dismissed with the ringing of the bells, applause and cheers.
Next, the members of the groups and authorities moved to the Municipal Market where the exchange of gifts took place, thus putting an end to the day.
