Santa Lucía celebrate their Patron Saint on 13 December

The reception of the Canarian and Swedish ‘Lucías’, Ciara Alemán Asensio and Paula Isaksson, and a cattle fair,highlight this Wednesday, 13 December, as the main day of the festivities of Santa Lucía, also a local holiday in the municipality. The big weekend in the municipality with the Judgment to the Haragán, the dance of Taifas and the popular Pilgrimage of the Labradores, this Sunday.

The celebration of the “Lucía Sueca” dates back to 1963, when a Swedish merchant marine captain, called Musber, found all Santa Lucia roads closed while touring Gran Canaria. When asked about the reasons for the traffic jam, a police officer explained that every December 13 the Procession of Saint Lucia was celebrated, a tradition they shared with the Swedish town of Luleå, where Musber was originally from.

An official delegation of the Swedish municipality of Luleå, will also be present at the reception, which is held in the Plenary Hall of the Town Hall, at 11.00 on Thursday and where they will be received by the Corporation of Santa Lucia and the Festival Commission.

The main day will start at 7:00 with flower decorating the streets and neighbourhood and will continue at 9:00 with the opening of the livestock fair, next to the municipal sports center of the historic center. In the religious sphere, the day will begin at 9.00, with the first pilgrim mass, destined in a very special way to the hundreds of people who come every year from different parts of the island to show their devotion to the patron saint of Tirajana.

The ceremony will follow the procession with the image of Santa Lucia through the streets of the town, which will be accompanied on its way by a group of women dressed in Canary mantillas and the Banda de Agaete. After the procession takes place the offerings of fruits and flowers, and the rites of water and milk, at the door of the church.

The program of the Fiestas de Santa Lucía and Los Labradores continues at 18.30, with the musical show by “Trío Encanto” and “Víctor Lemes”.

Thursday 14 December – Día del Haragán

The Day of the Haragán, one of the most popular acts of the patron saint festivities of Santa Lucia, is celebrated this Thursday. At 11:00 activities on Calle Leopoldo Matos and at 11:30 traditional Canarian games and at 14:00 popular food.

From 18.00, the street procession starts and the people of Santa Lucia will again “Judge Haragán” this year discussing the negative and positive events that have taken place throughout the year and coming to a final verdict whereby the ever-guilty protagonist always ends up being burned at the stake.

The figure of the Haragán will be accompanied by papahuevos ( the big paper mache dolls ) and the Agaete music band. Upon return, chocolate with churros are on offer. Once the trial is over, the verdict of the popular jury will be celebrated with a fireworks display to celebrate the verdict with joy.

OTHER LUCIA CELEBRATIONS

The Santa Lucia celebration in San Agustín, from the “Handelsboden San Agustin” store in collaboration with the Swedish School, and for the first time in the Centro Comercial San Agustín. Live music, glögg ( mulled wine ) and gingerbread are available for purchase, as well as tasting of the Christmas ham! From 17:30

IKEA is filled with all the light of Saint Lucia, the traditional Swedish festival of light.
The children of the Swedish School of Gran Canaria will represent it for you and you will be able to taste a small the flavours of Swedish produce at this time of year!