Folklore and customs

The area of Punta del Hidalgo in the municipality is the birthplace of the folk group The Sabandenos. Laguna has more than 50 groups in neighborhoods and localities of the municipality. The main celebration of local traditions is the Festival of San Benito Abad, held in early July in the town, involving a multitude of carts pulled by oxen, and folk groups, where one can savor the local cuisine. In other villages of the municipality there are other festivals like the livery of War or The Valley of Hearts Tejina.

Food Canaria includes: “Marsh” rosquetes of millefeuille stuffed angel hair; Gofio toasted wheat; Red and rose wine in the northeast region is of a high quality with “Tacoronte-Acentejo; “Frangollo” millet flour dessert with raisins, almonds and honey, typical of the belt in the neighborhoods of the city. Wrinkled potatoes with mojo and picon rabbit salmorejo, typical in the area of the mountains. Meat Goat arranged; Fish Viejas (fried or stewed) with green mojo in the area of Punta del Hidalgo; Potatoes with pineapples (in miles) and ribs in the Los Rodeos Guamasa. Canarian stew consisting of pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, pineapple millet or maize, beans, sweet potatoes and some beef and watercress pollo; Potaje; more typical of the island of La Gomera.

The town of La Laguna (2007) is one of the most active of the Canary Islands in terms of citizen’s movements. In Laguna, there are about 400 neighborhood associations with a stake ranging from 1,600 members who are called The Neighborhood Association of Verdenos.

In the town there are three neighborhood associations, the most important is the favorite Aguer, followed by Union Verdena.  They are important in that they subscribe to The District of Verdell, and finally The FAAM Menceyes, the important area of Genet. There is also a Civic Platform called “Participate” which although not legally a federation, it works as such.

In La Laguna there are some 15 youth groups with a stake ranging from 780 partners AJUVE (Youth Association for Verdell La).  The complete map of the municipality associations includes 23 associations of women, 45 elders, various sports, cultural and folk as well as the students associated with the University of La Laguna.

For its part the City has the largest network of public schools across the Canaries with 40 buildings dedicated to participation throughout the city, framed in the main geographical areas and serving as headquarters for organizations. Today San Cristobal de la Laguna has more than 152,000 inhabitants.

Relocation of the Virgin of Candelaria

Every seven years they celebrate the relocation of the Virgen de Candelaria (Patrona Principal Canary Islands) from the Villa Mariana de Candelaria in this city.  They alternate every seven years, between this city and the diocesan capital (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). The latest move to this city was in May 2009 and the next will be in 2023.

Culture

The historic center of the city is the Teatro Leal, an eclectic building which houses the main cultural representations. Also it houses the auditorium of IES La Laboral. It is noteworthy that the intervention is expected in the ruins and the surroundings of the Church of St. Augustine in order to create a multicultural space in the historic center like the case of the University of La Laguna, and the Coliseum Cinema Multicines Aguero. However, the township outside the town of the city has several theaters, auditoriums and art museums.

The town hosts the majority of the Island’s Museums: Museo de Historia de Tenerife (Lercaro House in the city itself); the Museum of Science and the Cosmos (next to the headquarters of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias in Barrionuevo) and the Museo de Antropología de Tenerife (Charter House, Valle de Guerra).

Furthermore, in the city there are cultural institutions like the Ateneo de La Laguna, La Paz the Orfeon and the Casino de La Laguna de Nava and Tertulia. This section also highlights the location of the Canary Language Academy, located at the Instituto Cabrera Pinto Canarias. There is a wide variety of art galleries and several exhibition halls.

In turn, the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna is the worldwide headquarters of the International Center for the Conservation of Heritage which has its branches in the House of the Captains General.

As for festivals, one can cite among others the Campus Rock, originally a college music festival, now completely separate from the University (to the point of being held in other municipalities with the same name).

Furthermore, the Historic Film Festival which was held in the Multicines Aguero and has become financially supported by the City and therefore there has not been held in 2007 which was its third edition.  Today the “International Competition of Tunas Ciudad de La Laguna,” is highlighted which has been conducted annually since 2006 and has been listed as one of the best in this type of event. Organized by the District Tuna University of La Laguna (www.tunadistritolalaguna.com), the Municipality of San Cristobal de La Laguna and the University of La Laguna.