The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Department of Culture, continues to develop initiatives to promote the Canarian identity. The upcoming celebration of La Noche de los Finaos is one of the most characteristic events of the island traditions. Therefore, the Institution, in collaboration with Felapyme and the town councils of Yaiza and San Bartolomé, is organizing activities and a theatrical performance on October 29th and 30th, starring Actúa Teatro. It promises to be a journey through time through the customs and legends of the Canary Islands.
Councilor Jesús Machín Tavío assures that "it will be a moving experience that will remind viewers of the importance of keeping our traditions alive that have shaped the Canarian identity. La Noche de los Finaos is a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with our cultural roots, on a magical journey through time and common memory," he emphasizes.
The first of these performances will be on Tuesday, October 29th, in the Plaza de Femés (Yaiza). The event will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a story of the traditions and with children's workshops where hot chocolate and shortbread cookies will also be offered to the participating boys and girls. Later, starting at 7:00 p.m., attendees will be able to enjoy the folklore with the performance of a Canarian parranda. Finally, starting at 8:00 p.m., the company Actúa Teatro will offer the expected performance of La Noche de los Finaos.
On Wednesday, October 30th, this theatrical play will take place in the municipality of San Bartolomé, specifically, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Casa Ajei.
With this type of collaboration, the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the town councils "emphasize honoring the Canarian tradition of the Finaos and highlight the commitment to connect the public with the past, reviving the ancestral traditions of the Canary Islands."
Los Finaos
Los Finaos has been one of the most forgotten cultural traditions of the archipelago, but today it is being recovered. The word "Finaos" means person "dead" or "deceased", it is referred to in many places as a popular and family tradition, it will be celebrated on November 1st, it consists of the oldest woman in each family remembering the dead, the finaos, those who had come to their end, the mother or grandmother told anecdotes of the finaos of the family and remembered them through their stories and anecdotes.
This entire ceremony was accompanied - logically - with a snack, based on chestnuts, walnuts and almonds, accompanied by sweet wine or anise and honey rum. Very curious characters participated, called, "The Wailing Women", who were the women who collaborated in the funeral honors.
Then people went out into the street and celebrated with songs, guitars and timples the memory of the finaos, a very peculiar coexistence of neighbors. There are many manifestations throughout the Canary Islands of this custom and each of them with its own characteristics, but the common element is the parranda, the food and the party; a cheerful and fun night.
