The proclamation of Segundo Viñoly begins the San Isidro festivities in Uga

Segundo Viñoly Garcés, dedicated to the art of hairdressing for 47 years, confessed that the invitation from the Yaiza City Council to proclaim the San Isidro Labrador Festivities not only forced him to look back, tracing endearing details of his childhood and the life of Uga, his town, but that "they can't imagine how much it has stirred me," thus, with that expression of feelings with his chest bared, which he knows how to mix with a fine sense of humor and street smarts, the town crier of Uga announced the arrival of the patronal celebrations aloud this Friday, assuring that "traditions sustain us." The town crier above all wanted to highlight three essential values from his childhood that forged the survival of the town: "solidarity, bartering, and community."

Backed by the mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, the councilor for Festivities, Daniel Medina, councilors from the municipal corporation, family, friends, neighbors, the town crier proudly stated at the Casa del Camello: “Uga is a small town full of soul that moves forward without shedding its identity”.

Upon opening the door of the past and closing my eyes to illuminate its memories, I also reflected on the meaning of the festive gathering and neighborhood participation. "The festivals are not made by the acts in the program. We make them. Every glance, every shared dish, every joke, every toast, every improvised song."

The first parties that come to mind smell of black pudding stuffed with almonds and raisins. He also does not forget "the smell of bread from Simón's kneaded dough", an aroma that spread through the town "and announced, even if you didn't want to, that there was a party".

Segundo Viñoly relates his interest in the profession of hairdresser to parties. He recalled that the girls who did not make their own dresses bought the fabrics at Domingo Robaina's store for Rosa Díaz to design them “and then they came to my house to see if I could style their hair to complete their outfit for masses and parties”. And anecdotes and stories around the profession, many. The hairspray of then was the “precursor” of Lagarto soap, Suasto soap, “which was the best we had so that their hair would not get messy”. At that time, they did not talk about updos, but about ‘bird’s nest’.

In small towns, he underlined, “nothing is forgotten and everything is inherited: traditions, stories, words, even silences”. Segundo Viñoly emotionally proclaimed the pride he feels for Uga, “for what this town has managed to preserve: closeness, mutual help, respect for the land and for its history”. And to preserve intangible heritage, the town crier highlighted all the people who tirelessly transmit customs and traditions: “the grandparents who tell stories, the parents who take their children to events, those who teach what they themselves learned as children”.

Óscar Noda points out that “Segundo Viñoly gave us a very emotional narrative that portrays with details a piece of Uga's history and the meaning of its festivals, furthermore, he did it with an extraordinary sense of humor that managed to connect with the entire audience. His story paints what a neighborhood gathering is and the values that highlight a hardworking and cohesive town”.

As councilor of Celebrations and son of Uga, Daniel Medina expresses his admiration for the town crier: “if there is someone who today represents that feeling of living tradition and the link with our people, it is our town crier of San Isidro”. Medina invites Yaiza and the people of Lanzarote to intensely experience the festivities until May 16th, , “but as the town crier rightly noted, let's experience the festivities as before, without haste, without mobile phones, without looking at the clock”. Uga invites us to go out into the street, laugh, dance, and share.