The Haría City Council approved this Thursday, in an ordinary and extraordinary plenary session, the designation of the Haría Awards 2026 to the collective of artisans and producers of the tourist experience Haría Artesanal, as well as the appointment of Juan José Santana de León as Beloved Son of the Municipality, posthumously.
The mayor, Alfredo Villalba, highlighted that the recognition of Haría Artesanal values "the effort, tradition, and roots of a municipality that has managed to preserve its essence through the work they do".
The Consistory emphasizes that Haría has survived over the years thanks to the work of many people who have kept alive trades linked to local identity. In this regard, artisanal activity has resisted the passage of time thanks to the effort and tenacity of generations of residents, constituting today a cultural heritage that defines the northern municipality.
The special natural conditions of the Haría valley, marked by its palm groves, have also favored the development of artisanal work in pírgano, palm, and palmito, giving rise to artistic manifestations in functional and decorative basketry, rosettes, embroidery, doll making, and ceramics, among other disciplines.
Through Haría Artesanal, residents and visitors can enjoy both the most traditional sector and contemporary proposals, as well as discover fresh local products such as cheeses, organically grown fruits and vegetables, and local pastries. The collective has established itself as a benchmark in the promotion of culture, local products, and the tourist experience linked to the municipality's identity.
On the other hand, the Plenary approved the appointment of Juan José Santana de León as Beloved Son of the Municipality in recognition of his career and the services rendered for the benefit and honor of Haría.
Villalba stated that "this recognition represents a well-deserved tribute to the figure of Juan José Santana de León and the legacy he left in the municipality". "His commitment and dedication are part of the collective memory of Haría and the history of many generations of residents," he added.
About Juan José Santana
Born on May 5, 1944, in Máguez, Juan José Santana de León lived a life marked by commitment to education, public service, and the defense of Lanzarote's traditions. A teacher by profession, he worked at the National School of Haría from 1969 until his retirement in 2005.
During the transition, he was the mayor of Haría and became the first mayor of the municipality after the arrival of democracy in 1979. He was also a councilor of the Cabildo and a representative in the Pre-autonomic Council of the Canary Islands, promoting different projects for the development of the municipality and the island.
After his political and teaching career, he remained actively involved in the cultural and traditional life of Lanzarote, especially in the field of island agriculture and viticulture. From the presidency of the association Friends of Wine and Cheese, he worked on the recovery and dissemination of the island's ethnographic and heritage values, a task he also carried out through various literary publications.
Likewise, from the presidency of the José Clavijo y Fajardo Foundation, he promoted initiatives for the dissemination and enhancement of the figure of the Lanzarotean Enlightenment figure, promoting activities and collaborations with Canary Islands universities.
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