The Canary Islands, second largest Catholic community after Murcia
Although its Constitution is secular, Spain is still strongly marked by the Catholic Christian tradition and in this area the Canary Islands are no exception to these national beliefs. Quite the contrary. Since according to a survey carried out in 2015, with 84.5% of Catholics, the Canary Islands are the second Spanish community practising this religion, after the community of Murcia. However, as in the rest of Spain, religion is also declining, especially among young people, as shown by a survey published in May 2019 that details the practices of everyone. To the question "How do you define yourself in relation to religious feeling? "In the survey, 24.3 per cent of the respondents declared themselves to be practising Catholics, but 52.3 per cent declared themselves to be non-practising, like the average Spaniard. 11.6% claim to be atheist and 6.1% agnostic, with 2.2% practising another religion. In a very anecdotal way, we can also note the existence of a Church of the Guanche people, created in 2001 in La Laguna in the island of Tenerife, which practices a neo-paganism honoring Chaxiraxi, the universal mother goddess of the Guanches, but which has only a few hundred followers. Since the Spanish colonisation in the 15th century, the Christian Catholic religion has replaced the old Aboriginal religion through its prohibition, but also through the recovery of some of its symbols, as can be seen in the veneration of the Virgen de la Candelaría on the island of Tenerife, for example, or the Rama festival, celebrated every August in the small village of Agaete, Gran Canaria. This one takes up an aboriginal belief that invoked the sky and the gods to make rain come and gives a rather surprising spectacle during the verbena, when everyone walks two steps forward and one step back, arms raised. In the chiaroscuro of the night lights, the arms that rise and fall at different rhythms are not without visually evoking raindrops.
Special devotion to the Virgin
As in the rest of Spain, the Canary Islands are marked by a strong religious devotion, especially towards the Virgin Mary. Each island venerates more particularly a Virgin as well as patron saints. Beyond religious belief, this veneration is the occasion for celebrations that seek to mark the historical and cultural traditions of the islands and functions rather as an affirmation of identity. They are also the occasion for a festive agenda involving all generations. Here are the main celebrations for each island. Every year, Tenerife celebrates the Virgen de la Candelaría (Candlemas) on 14 and 15 August with a procession from the Candelaria Basilica to Teide Park. Legend has it that this Virgin appeared to two Guanche shepherds in 1392, one hundred years before the conquest, who worshipped her in a cave until she was swept away by a tidal wave in 1826. Now housed in the basilica, the present statue dates from the 19th century, but at the end of the sea front you can still see the cave that once housed the ancient Virgin, who was baptised Achbinico by the Guanches and renamed San Blas by the Spaniards. On 8 September in Teror, Gran Canaria celebrates its patron saint, the Virgen del Pino, who appeared in 1482 under a pine tree that became Pino Santo and was later replaced by a new one, enthroned next to the basilica, after being struck by lightning. Pilgrims and carts of offerings to the Virgin come to mark this festivity, during which the indispensable chorizo sandwich will be tasted. Since 1680, Santa Cruz de La Palma has only celebrated its Virgen de las Nieves every five years between June and August (the 2020 edition has been cancelled due to Covid), with its highlights being the dance of the dwarves and the minué, an 18th-century dance featuring the French minuet. The Virgen de Guadalupe is also celebrated by La Gomera every 5 years on October 8th. The latter being lowered in a fisherman's boat from its sanctuary in Puntillana to San Sebastián de la Gomera. On the occasion of the Betancuria festival, Fuerteventura accompanies its Virgen de la Peña on the road to Vega del rio de Palma. On 15 September, Lanzarote pays homage to the Virgen de los Dolores where she performed her miracle: stopping the lava from Timanfaya. Finally El Hierro honours the Virgen de los Reyes by accompanying her from the Dehesa de Sabinosa to Valverde.
