The celebration of Canary Islands Day arrives this year at the emblematic clock of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. The Community of Madrid, at the request of the Government of the Canary Islands and in close collaboration with it, will delay the hands of this iconic machinery for the first time in its history to commemorate Canary Islands Day, marking the time of the islands, from 09:00 to 21:00 hours. A gesture in homage to our archipelago, as a sign of the good harmony between both regions and of bringing its culture closer to the citizens of Madrid and the Canary Islands.
The Deputy Ministers of the Presidency and of Physical Activity and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alfonso Cabello and Ángel Sabroso, respectively, accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Local Administration of the Community of Madrid, Miguel Ángel García Martín, visited this morning the machinery of the clock of the Real Casa de Correos, on whose facade a canvas will be installed at 9 am this Friday explaining that, due to Canary Islands Day, the clock marks one hour less.
In his speech, Cabello pointed out the importance of expressing the pride of who we are - motto of this Month of the Canary Islands -, taking advantage of the uniqueness of the time zone of the islands, "turning it into an opportunity to build bridges that recognize the idiosyncrasy of the Canary Islands and serve as a link with the continent." "May the eyes turn to the Canary Islands and serve as a reminder of the richness of this land," Cabello wished.
Ángel Sabroso, for his part, indicated that "this is a gesture of homage to our people, to their daily struggle against distance and territorial fragmentation, as well as to their character and their ability to build ties and build bridges." The Deputy Minister also had words of gratitude for the Community of Madrid, for its support in carrying out this "symbolic, simple and powerful tribute, which turns the heart of the capital of Spain into a loudspeaker that says that the Canary Islands are here," he concluded.
In this line, Miguel Ángel García Martín, indicated that this gesture "demonstrates the good institutional relations between both governments and the welcome of Madrid residents to the culture and traditions of the Canary Islands." "Madrid is an open, plural and diverse region where everyone fits. So much so that anyone who visits us feels like a Madrid resident from day one," he said.
In the visit to the interior of the clock on the facade of the Real Casa de Correos, Alfonso Cabello and Ángel Sabroso, accompanied by the Madrid councilor, as well as Pedro Ortiz, master watchmaker who has been in charge of this piece for twenty-nine years, learned about the comprehensive maintenance process to which this valuable piece of watchmaking was recently subjected, one of the main symbols of the center of Madrid since its installation in 1866.
This is the first complete overhaul in thirty years, coordinated by the team of watchmakers who usually ensure its operation, a work that allowed to disassemble and thoroughly clean all the parts of the mechanism, including those that mark the hours, quarters and hands.
A historic Month of the Canary Islands
The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, led by Poli Suárez, already organized in the Plaza de Callao on May 17 a historic fight corresponding to the twentieth day of the DISA Government of the Canary Islands Tournament, as part of the extensive program that celebrates the Month of the Canary Islands, which adds more than 75 sports, cultural and institutional events inside and outside the archipelago.
With this new initiative, which will match the schedules of Madrid and the Canary Islands on May 30, the official holiday of the archipelago, the Month of the Canary Islands marks a milestone in its program with the celebration of these two events in two of the most symbolic and central spaces in Madrid.
The Month of the Canary Islands, a month to celebrate our identity
The idea of celebrating the Month of the Canary Islands, instead of just one day, arises to make visible the cultural, patrimonial and social diversity over several weeks. It is an opportunity for knowledge and appreciation of the culture of the islands to reach all corners of the archipelago and even cross borders.
This is the second consecutive year in which Canary Islands Day is celebrated throughout the month. On this occasion, the program includes more than 75 activities on all the islands, under the motto 'Pride of who we are'.
The program of the Month of the Canary Islands can be consulted on the web portal of the Government of the Canary Islands, in addition to each day on the social networks of the Presidency of the Government and the areas that organize each activity.
