Last Saturday night, the Archinech Easter Ranch of Tinajo celebrated the "XXXVI Encuentro de Ranchos," an event deeply steeped in tradition and collective memory, which took place in the main church of San Roque, the patron saint of the municipality. The gathering began at 8:30 PM, presided over by the titular parish priest Francisco José García, with both naves of the temple completely filled with a loyal audience who love these deeply rooted cultural manifestations in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands. In this edition, the host Ranch shared the stage and feelings with the Teguise Easter Ranch.
The "Ranchos de Pascuas" are part of one of the oldest and most beloved traditions in the Canary Islands. Their origin dates back several centuries, when groups of neighbors would gather during Advent and Christmas to sing, pray, and accompany with music the spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus. These groups, composed of men and women from the town, would go through houses, streets, and churches, bringing not only Christmas carols but also messages of solidarity, faith, and hope.
The ranch was, and continues to be, a profoundly communal expression; a song that unites voices, remembers those who are no longer here, and keeps alive a legacy passed down from generation to generation. Its traditional instruments, swords, castanets, tambourines, triangles, lutes, guitars, and timples resonate today with the same strength as yesterday, with that unmistakable sound that transports us to the living and present history of Lanzarote.
The event began with a performance by the Rancho de Pascuas de Teguise, a group whose roots lie in the ancient "ranchos de ánimas" (choirs of souls), brought to Lanzarote after the conquest. These brotherhoods gained particular prominence from the late 15th century and throughout the following centuries, playing an important religious and social role.
Next, the performance of the Archinech Easter Ranch of Tinajo took place, which represents and keeps the tradition alive in the municipality. Its work is fundamental to preserving a cultural heritage that combines music, singing, religious rite, and historical memory. Originally, in Tinajo, there were several ranches known as "ranchos de ánimas" (soul ranches) in areas such as Tajaste, La Costa, and La Vegueta, whose purpose was to tour the villages during the winter months reciting verses to fund masses for the deceased. Over time, these old ranches disappeared, leaving Archinech today as the faithful custodian of this tradition.
During the night of the encounter, both ranchos began their performances by entering the church through the central aisle, singing until they reached the High Altar, where they began to perform traditional songs such as Desechas, Corrido, Zapateo, El Divino, and the Danza de Pastores, known as Salto, among others. The Rancho de Pascuas de Teguise was led by Olive Martín, and the Rancho de Pascuas Archinech de Tinajo was led by Ivanhoe Rodríguez. Each performance concluded with the ranchos exiting through the central aisle, singing and accompanied by the prolonged applause of an audience that, year after year, supports with their presence these cultural manifestations with such deep roots in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands