Every August 5th, the people of Lanzarote keep Our Lady of Las Nieves very much in mind, and many devotees set out from the early hours of the day. Some walking, others with a donkey, and there are also those who arrive on horseback. This year the pilgrims' petition to Our Lady was unanimous: "that this pandemic stop", with the hope of recovering health to be able to return to work and end this crisis that is affecting so many families.
This year the sanctuary remained open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Throughout the day, the arrival of devotees who came to present their promises made in prayer was constant.
At noon, the solemn Eucharist was celebrated, presided over by Agustín Lasso Tadeo, parish priest of Tías, who was assisted by Matías Gula, parish priest of Teguise, and other priests. This year the image of the Virgin did not go out in procession, complying with the regulations established by the Health Department.
Tradition
The devotion of the people of Lanzarote to Our Lady of Las Nieves motivated them to go to her sanctuary in the face of the calamities of lack of rain and other needs. That is why the Virgin was not only brought down to Teguise every year for her novena, but also in rogations. The image was brought in an armchair to the hermitage of San José, and from the parish of Teguise a solemn procession went out to meet her with the images of San Rafael, San Isidro, the Holy Christ, and San Sebastián also came from El Mojón and San Leandro from Teseguite.