PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort
The festivities in honor of the Virgen de las Nieves began this Friday in the mountains of Teguise, with the reading of the proclamation by María de las Nieves Hernández Díaz. Before, at 6:30 p.m., a mass was celebrated, presided over by the parish priest of Teguise, José Benito Gallego.
The town crier is a woman with very deep roots and, as a believer, dedicated the proclamation to the figure of the Virgin Mary, as mother of Jesus, of the church and of the Catholic community. She also highlighted the important role that the mountain had in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In addition, she recalled her childhood, in which she climbed the mountain of Teguise, where the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is located, accompanied by her parents.
The proclamation included some brushstrokes of her anecdotes, highlighting how impressed she was when the Virgin descended from her dressing room to the Main Altar, wrapped in white tulles. The town crier recalled that at some moments, as a child, she came to think that the Virgin was coming down on her own.
María de las Nieves Hernández Díaz is a teacher, is married and is the mother of two children. She also collaborates in catechesis tasks and is always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs it. Among the public were her husband and children, as well as some town criers from previous years, such as Juan Pedro Hernández, Esteban Betancort, Fermín García, Oliver Martín, Marisol Felipe and Benjamín Díaz.
María de las Nieves finished her proclamation with a "viva" to the Virgen de las Nieves and inviting everyone to participate in the festivities these days. The festivity of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is celebrated on Tuesday, August 5, when there will be two masses for pilgrims, at 8 and 10 in the morning.
At 12 noon there will be a Solemn Mass, presided over by Domingo Muñoz Pérez, director of the Diocesan Secretariat of Youth and Vocational Ministry of the Diocese of the Canary Islands. Next, the procession of the Virgin will take place. In the afternoon, at 6:30 p.m., a Mass will be dedicated to the deceased who were devotees of the Virgen de las Nieves.
