Maria Sahai Photography

Colorful streets of Candelaria

According to a legend, in 1594, a statue of the Virgin Mary, bearing a child in one hand and a green candle in the other (hence "Candelaria"), was discovered on the beach of Chimisay (Güímar) by two Guanche goatherds in 1392.

One of the shepherds tried to throw a stone at the statue, but his arm became paralyzed; the other tried to stab the statue with a knife but ended up stabbing himself.

Later, Antón, a Guanche who had been enslaved and converted to Christianity by the Castilians, returned to Tenerife and recognized the statue as that of the Virgin Mary. Since those days, Fiesta de la Candelaria is celebrated on February 2 and August 15, the patronal feast of the Canary Islands.

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Filename: 20210529_161308.heic
Copyright: Maria Sahai (c)
Image Size: 4000x3000 / 10.7MB; tenerife canary islands canarias spain travel
Contained in galleries: TENERIFE, SPAIN

According to a legend, in 1594, a statue of the Virgin Mary, bearing a child in one hand and a green candle in the other (hence "Candelaria"), was discovered on the beach of Chimisay (Güímar) by two Guanche goatherds in 1392.<br />
<br />
One of the shepherds tried to throw a stone at the statue, but his arm became paralyzed; the other tried to stab the statue with a knife but ended up stabbing himself. <br />
<br />
Later, Antón, a Guanche who had been enslaved and converted to Christianity by the Castilians, returned to Tenerife and recognized the statue as that of the Virgin Mary. Since those days, Fiesta de la Candelaria is celebrated on February 2 and August 15, the patronal feast of the Canary Islands.