VII Encuentro de Libreas de Tenerife en La Laguna: Uniendo tradiciones locales.

The Cultural Federation of Libreas de Tenerife and the Cultural Heritage and Festivities departments of the City Council of La Laguna organize the VII edition of the Libreas de Tenerife Encounter, an opportunity to travel through time through the memory and intangible heritage preserved by the residents of different municipalities of the island, a tradition that is preserved in La Laguna in the auto sacramental of Valle de Guerra, declared a Cultural Interest Property and which this October will celebrate 410 years of history.

The Councilor of Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, and the President of the Cultural Federation of Libreas de Tenerife, Rubens García, presented today the program of events of this Encounter, which, from June 9 to 14, will allow you to enjoy an exhibition of costumes and elements used in the various performances on the island, as well as conferences, a parade, and a grand representation in the plaza of Christ of the participating libreas.

The councilor explained that, «for a week, La Laguna will celebrate the diversity and richness of the Tenerife libreas. Each one with its essence and its history, but all with the same purpose: to keep alive the heritage of all the people of Tenerife and that these manifestations continue to be studied, valued, and protected. Objectives in which the Federation plays a fundamental role.»

«To gather all these representations in the only World Heritage City of the Canary Islands, on the 25th anniversary of its declaration by UNESCO, is a recognition of the role that La Laguna has played in the history and culture of the Archipelago and an opportunity to travel through time through the union of material and intangible heritage,» highlighted Cordobés.

Furthermore, the councilor recalled that «this Encounter not only strengthens the bond between the different towns of Tenerife, but also exalts the legacy that unites us as a community. With it, we want to contribute to strengthening and preserving a shared identity, collective memory, and the commitment to keep our tradition alive for future generations.»

The President of the Federation, Rubens García, explained that «this Federation emerged in 2023, thanks to the union of the collectives and the need to preserve the libreas encounters over time, consolidate the existing libreas to keep this heritage alive with centuries of history, as well as trying to recover some that have been lost.» In this sense, he pointed out that «we know that there were some, for example, in Las Mercedes or Geneto, that have disappeared.»

«This year, as a resident of La Laguna, I am very proud that the streets and doors of La Laguna are open to disseminate the libreas of Tenerife and their important ethnographic and cultural role, a tremendous richness that identifies us as a people,» added García, who provided all the details of the program and explained the differences between the Tenerife manifestations that can be enjoyed during the next week in the historic city.

In fact, the libreas are a living testimony of the history and traditions of each municipality. They evoke events such as the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and use militias, like those of Valle de Guerra or Taganana, while others present devil figures dancing to the rhythm of tajaraste, recreations linked to thanking the patron saints for good harvests or for delivering them from pirate attacks, as can be seen in the northeastern localities.

Program of Events

The program will start this Monday (June 9) with an exhibition at the hermitage of San Miguel Arcángel, built in the early 16th century by order of the Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo to house his family pantheon, which was the site of the first meetings of the Tenerife Council and which has now become a cultural and exhibition space.

The exhibition of costumes and elements of the different libreas can be visited until Friday, June 13, from 10:00 to 19:00, while on Saturday it will open from 10:00 to 14:00.

That same Friday, the Casa de los Capitanes will host two conferences, led by the Lagunero researcher expert in traditional clothing of the Islands and Gold Medal of Tenerife, Juan de la Cruz Rodríguez, and the anthropologist and member of the Librea of the Place of Buenavista del Norte, Ricardo Fajardo Hernández.

Parade through Viana Street

The activities will end on Saturday (June 14) with the Encounter of Libreas, in which those from Valle de Guerra, El Tanque, Taganana, El Palmar, as well as those from the Place of Buenavista del Norte and the Diablos de las Angustias of Icod de Los Vinos will participate. It will start at 7:30 p.m., with a parade through the historic center that will start from Plaza Hermano Ramón and, after going through Viana Street, will end in the Plaza del Cristo. Here, there will be an explanation and a display of these different Tenerife representations.

The Cultural Federation of Libreas de Tenerife is made up of the Cultural Association Friends of La Librea de Valle de Guerra, the Cultural Association Librea of the Diablos de las Angustias, the Neighborhood Association Voz del Valle de Taganana, the Cultural Association of the Libreas of El Palmar, and the Folkloric Group of the Faculty of Education of the University of La Laguna.

This VII Encounter also has the collaboration of the Tamaimos Canarian Foundation and the School of Art and Superior Design Fernando Estévez.