Canary THE
NEWS Every 2 weeks
Edition 52
FIESTA!
26th August - 8th September 2011
Canary THE
NEWS
The Canary Islands’ most successful FREE Newspaper
Från Norr NEW Nordic Section Page 6-7
La Vara del Pescao, Arinaga (The Festival of the Fishing Rod) El Pino Patron Saint of GC Page 12
Denim Love Autumn Trends Page 20
Eco Action Volunteers Initiative Page 28
Gran Canaria is an island filled with culture and tradition, and much of its heritage is preserved and even revered by the islanders. La Vara del Pescao (This Friday 26th August) is held in memory of the Canarian fishermen, who, in times past, risked their lives spending many weeks at sea while their womenfolk waited on shore and anxiously prayed
Canary THE
NEWS
for their safe return. It is the 16th year it has been held in this manner and has grown year on year to many tens of thousands of revellers. It comes at the starting point of, what for many is, the culmination of the summer fiesta period in the lead up to the Pilgrimage of the Virgen del Pino, Patron Saint of
The Canary Islands and Province of Las Palmas, held in a couple of weeks time in Teror at the end of the first week in September. There is a passion among the young people of the island to uphold the traditions of their ancestors. Today of course much is purely symbolic, but nevertheless has significant
nostalgia and deep meaning for local people. The opportunity to wear traditional straw hats and Canarian costume is rarely missed, especially if there is a giant party to be had, and particularity if it includes free food. Continued page 12...
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