There are places where time seems to stand still to remember where we come from. The mountain of Teguise is one of them. Every summer, when the festivals in honor of Our Lady of Las Nieves arrive, its paths are once again filled with footsteps, songs, and hope. It is not just a pilgrimage; it is the reunion of a people with its roots, with its history, and with a devotion that has managed to pass from generation to generation without losing an iota of its essence.
Last Saturday, despite the high temperatures that have accompanied the island of Lanzarote in recent days, hundreds of pilgrims once again fulfilled a tradition inherited from their elders, embarking on the path to the Sanctuary to place at the feet of Our Lady of Las Nieves their offerings, their prayers, and, above all, the affection of a people who never miss this appointment.
At five in the afternoon, the float organized by the City Council departed from the vicinity of the Los Molino Football Field in Teguise, led by the mayor of the municipality, Olivia Duque, along with council members and numerous residents dressed in traditional Canarian attire. The sound of the timple and guitars, accompanied by the voices of singers, turned the route into an authentic celebration of our customs from the very first moment.
At the same time, the residents of the towns of Teseguite, El Mojón, and Los Valles began their ascent with their traditional floats adorned with palm branches, faithful to a custom that remains alive thanks to the commitment of those who understand that preserving traditions is also a way of honoring those who bequeathed them to us. They carried the offerings and the youngest pilgrims, the protagonists of the generational change that guarantees the future of this celebration.
The ascent to the mountain was accompanied by coplas, popular music, and the unmistakable atmosphere of the pilgrimages of yesteryear. Baskets were opened to share the food carefully prepared in each home, while conversations, laughter, and songs made the journey more bearable. It was impossible not to perceive that sense of community that turns strangers into fellow pilgrims and everyone into a single family under the protection of the Virgin.
At half past seven in the evening, the Pilgrim's Eucharist began, presided over by the titular parish priest of Teguise, Don Juan Manuel Molina. The Sanctuary once again proved too small for the massive attendance of faithful, who participated with deep reverence in the readings, prayers, and songs, offering a beautiful display of the living faith that continues to beat in the heart of the people.
Once the celebration concluded, the revered image of Our Lady of Las Nieves was carried on the shoulders of her bearers to the esplanade of the Sanctuary. Her departure provoked one of the most emotional moments of the day. Applause, cheers, and gazes filled with emotion accompanied the Virgin's walk amidst a sea of pilgrims who contemplated with respect and admiration the one who, for centuries, has held a privileged place in the history and sentiment of Lanzarote.
Next, the traditional offering took place, during which numerous non-perishable products destined for the Parish Cáritas were placed next to the Virgin's throne. A simple, yet profoundly significant gesture, demonstrating that true devotion always walks hand in hand with solidarity and commitment to those most in need.
Traditional music once again became prayer. The Parranda Tinasoria gave voice to popular sentiment while the Asociación de Bailes Típicos Altaja offered a magnificent display of Lanzarote's folklore with seguidillas, sorondogos, folías, and isas, performed with the respect and elegance that such a special occasion deserved. Later, the Parranda Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Teguise would also offer its particular musical tribute, with both performances being widely applauded by the public.
Visibly moved, Don Juan Manuel Molina thanked the pilgrims for their extraordinary participation, the generosity shown with the offerings, and the enduring affection that the people continue to profess for Our Lady of Las Nieves, recalling that from the top of the Teguise mountain, she continues to watch over all her children with the same tenderness as always.
As the revered image slowly returned inside the Sanctuary, emotion gave way once again to fellowship. In the surroundings, the parrandas continued to be heard, food was shared, and hugs were exchanged between family and friends, prolonging a day where no one was a stranger and where everyone shared the same sentiment.
Because it is, perhaps, the greatness of this pilgrimage. it not only keeps a centuries-old tradition alive, but it reminds us that a people that preserves its faith, its customs, and its culture never loses its identity. In each step towards the mountain, the memory of our elders also walks, the example they left, and the responsibility to transmit that legacy to those who will come tomorrow.
And as the sun began to set over the Lanzarotean landscape, the mountain of Teguise was once again enveloped in that serene silence that only sacred places know. There remained Our Lady of the Snows, contemplating from her Sanctuary the return of her children, knowing that, one more year, faith, tradition, and brotherhood had once again written one of the most beautiful pages of the Lanzarotean summer. Because traditions are not only preserved over time; they remain alive thanks to the heart of a people who never forget their roots and who, generation after generation, continue to find under the mantle of Our Lady of the Snows a reason to believe, share, and always walk united.
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