Fiesta de la Cruz

Fiesta de la Cruz, 2007

The Canary Island of La Palma was finally conquered on May 3rd, 1493. On that day, Tanausú, the last Guanche king, came out of the Caldera with most of his warriors to talk peace. He'd been promised safe passage, but they were ambushed and murdered. The town of Santa Cruz de la Palma was officially founded that afternoon. This happened to be the anniversary of the discovery of the True Cross, so Fiesta de la Cruz has always been a big thing here.
In Santa Cruz, Breña Alta and Breña Baja, they decorate the roadside crosses. Since most crosses are hung with gold jewelry (among other things) people stay beside them all night, and all the next day. Most holidaymakers go and admire the crosses in the morning, but the locals go see the crosses the night before the public holiday, when it's cooler and more atmospheric. This year I went up to San Isidro, and photographed the crosses on the way down. I was lucky -- my friends Helen and Theresa came, and Theresa very nobley did all the driving. This meant that I could jump out just beofre each cross and have five minutes to take photos while poor Theresa sat in the queue. then I jumped back in and we drove to the next cross

La Cruz la Pavona

Click on the link below a thumbnail to see a larger photo.

Pavona

Pavona Cross

Pavona Detail