On Friday, the flags were raised in the towns of San Bartolomé and Playa Honda with the presence of the mayor, Alexis Tejera, and members of the Corporation, flags that will fly until tomorrow in the Plaza León y Castillo and Santa Elena.
The musical show "Aires de Tradición" premiered at the San Bartolomé Theater, with a full house for the occasion, to pay tribute to the most deeply rooted traditions of San Bartolomé.
An elegant and solemn show that the mayor was in charge of opening, congratulating all the neighbors.
The Municipal Choir of San Bartolomé, accompanied by the sound of the wind, gave voice to one of the most characteristic themes of our folklore, "Campesina".
The presenter Laura Afonso welcomed and introduced the first of the night's guests. An interview with Tito Perera, president and musical director of the A.F. Guadarfía, and little by little the interviews with Toni Rodríguez, musical director of the A.F. La Peña, to the current owners of La Molina José María Gil, Lourdes Rodríguez and Silvia Gil who spoke of the importance of keeping the legacy of gofio alive, projecting that it be known and recognized throughout the world, also paying tribute to that indisputable figure who was for folklore José María Gil. Leo García with his usual enthusiasm commented on how to keep musical traditions alive through the Municipal School of Folklore and the recent Teguey Folk Group.
There was also a tribute to Ico Arrocha, who is now the Favorite Son of Lanzarote, and since 2016 has been the Adoptive Son of San Bartolomé. A recording of one of his interventions in the Bodega de Julián left testimony of a captivating phrase referring to the folklore of all the islands "we are like grapes, we are in the same bunch but they are all different";. Ico Arrocha, in addition to being undoubtedly one of the great voices that Lanzarote has given, understood the musical difference between the islands as essential because "it is the richness of Canarian folklore";.Nilsa Álvarez, Samuel García, Izan Ortega and José Manuel García gave voice to themes as important as the Mazurka, Isa del Uno, Folías, Seguidillas, Malagueñas, Isa de la Zorra, El Sorondongo and the Isa Parrandera to close the act.
The man and woman of the countryside also had their space with a poem read by Reyes Tabares. The performances were accompanied by the Parranda El Golpito and the dance of the Altaja Cultural Association.
The mayor, Alexis Tejera, highlights the importance of keeping our traditions alive, that we have a quarry that takes over our musical instruments, voices that intone with feeling our deep singing, that they learn our dance steps taken from our roots, and that all this is the present, future and our dazzled look at the past of our great folkloric manifestations in this municipality, which has had and has relevant figures in all the folkloric artistic manifestations, cradle of singers, dancers and great players. He thanks the Department of Festivities, delegated to Isidro Pérez, organizer of this great event, and all the people who made it possible, from the direction of Orlando Callero, or participating from the stage or the assembly.
Congratulations, great night for our folklore and traditions and a strong applause and affectionate hug for all the Canarians who outside this land today are united by this strong feeling and to those who have made this municipality their new home. Happy Canary Islands Day.
