Photos: Sergio Betancort
The Order of the Canarian Puppy, celebrated an event with the intention of rescuing the traditions of the Canary Islands under the title of "Day of the Finaos" on Monday night, at the Arrecife Civic Center. The organization of the event was carried out with the collaboration of the Culture and Tourism Councils of the Arrecife City Council, led by Rafael Juan González.
They also had the assistance of the Doctor of Sociology, Carmen Morales, an expert in topics related to traditions, some of them lost over time, which have been part of our cultural ancestors. For that reason, Morales believes that they must be brought back to light so that new generations know the cultural impact they had in the past.
The Doctor of Sociology began her presentation talking about how the night dedicated to "Los Finaos" passed, in which families, on the eve of All Saints' Day, gathered and the oldest person (grandmother or mother) was in charge of praying the rosary. For each Finao (or deceased), she lit a candle while continuing to pray. Then they ate the fruits of the season such as chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, leeks or dried fruit. The older men accompanied this lunch with honey rum, sweet wine or cognac, while the women did it with a glass of anise or some homemade liquor to a lesser extent.
Morales also explained that the little ones took a bag and went through the houses asking for the saints. According to tradition, "they knocked on the doors and asked if there were saints. The owner replied yes, depositing some dried fruit, almonds, figs or chestnuts in the bag."
"The Wake of the Little Angels"
The expert in Sociology discussed another of the traditions already lost such as the "Wake of the Little Angels." When a boy or girl under the age of seven died, they sang and danced to him during the night, remaining in the wake until the next day, when he was taken to the cemetery. It was thought that, in this way, "as a little angel" it took less time to reach God.
In the time of wake, after a child died, the people of the place gathered in the house and the godmother was the first to raise the bed to the little dead child. At this moment, "she began to dance with him in her arms until she went around the place where the child was shrouded." Once the godmother gave this turn, she handed him over to the godfather and he did the same as her. It was from that moment that the crowd present there began to dance and sing verses alluding to the child throughout the night, while sending messages to the afterlife.
The next day, at the time of the burial, they began to make "the little angel" the orders that he should carry with him and it was done by anyone who had a family member who had died. "Tell my father that the little girl he left behind is already married and that we are very well here and so you remember I put a green ribbon on you!", Morales continued telling many more experiences related to the "Wake of the Little Angels".
At the end of her speech, the Doctor of Sociology was greatly applauded by the audience. Then the members of the Rancho de Ánimas de Tiscamanita, Fuerteventura, created in Tuineje, at the request of the residents of the area by Bishop Manuel Verdugo in the year 1800, took the stage. In its beginnings, they went through the houses singing and praying for the deceased and collecting alms from the faithful, so that the priests could celebrate masses for the souls of Purgatory, since it was thought that they would reach heaven sooner. This mission was carried out from November 1 (All Saints' Day) to February 2 (Candlemas Day).
However, today, the Rancho de Ánimas de Tiscamanita only goes out on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8, since in 1977 the tradition was lost and was not recovered until 1987, when the neighbors together with the last butler rescued melodies and lyrics. In addition, they opened the doors so that women and children also had access.
With the performance of the Rancho de Ánimas de Tiscamanita, Fuerteventura, and its musical repertoire that mixes dirges, couplets and corridos, the end of a day dedicated to "Los Finaos" was reached.
