Presentado el cartel de las Cruces de Mayo en La Laguna

The City Council and the May Crosses Association of La Laguna City have today presented the poster and the first details of the program for the May Crosses 2025, a festival deeply rooted in the municipality and with five centuries of history and tradition. This display of ephemeral art becomes an opportunity to discover the public and private heritage of the World Heritage City and of many of the towns and neighborhoods of La Laguna, a time when historic chapels, convents, hallways, and courtyards of old family homes are decorated and opened.

The Councilor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, and the President of the Association, Pedro Gutiérrez, presented the activities at a press conference where the traditional unveiling of the poster to the media took place, an oil painting on canvas by artist Miguel Rocha Rocha.

Rocha explained to those present an artwork for which he has taken, as the central element, the historic cross of Salazar de Frías, an intervention in which he was accompanied by José Luis Salazar, a representative of the family linked to this devotional element. Additionally, the promotional video for this year’s celebration was screened.

Adolfo Cordobés recalled that, «although we are on the eve of Holy Week, this poster presentation has already become a new tradition in La Laguna that we could not delay. Just like the May Crosses, with five centuries of history as one of our most emblematic cultural expressions that continues to be passed down from generation to generation, thanks to the dedication of many neighbors.»

«This is very important because the preservation of material and immaterial heritage, as a living part of our identity, is a commitment and a responsibility that demands strong citizen participation,» highlighted the councilor, who thanked the Association «for their commitment and defense of this centuries-old legacy» and congratulated Miguel Rocha for a work «that shows the affection and sensitivity to our heritage.»

On his part, Pedro Gutiérrez highlighted the support of the City Council for this initiative, even more special in a year when the Association celebrates its tenth anniversary, and pointed out that the registration period for the traditional «route map» through the crosses is still open, although it is expected that more than 60 will be exceeded.

The proclamation, on April 24

In addition, the president announced that the proclamation for the festival will take place on April 24, at 8:00 p.m., at the Casino de La Laguna. «This year, it will be given by Juan Antonio Guedes Suárez, vicar 1 and delegate for the Clergy, and the presenter and maintainer will be the ULL professor Olga María Alegre de la Rosa.»

He also pointed out that, in this ceremony, «a composition specifically for the May Crosses of La Laguna will be premiered, with the musical performance of the White Voices Choir from the Professional Music Conservatory of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, directed by Juan Ramón Vinagre.»

Miguel Rocha delved into the inspiration for his pictorial work, a poster that is based on the texts of Santa Faustina and in which a beam of light emerges from the cross to flood the world with rays of flowers, accompanied by the motto «In cruce vita nova» and with the church of Santo Domingo de La Laguna as the architectural backdrop.