The municipality of Los Realejos, in Tenerife, is renowned for its Day of the Crosses festivities, particularly its pyrotechnic display, declared a National Tourist Interest Festival. However, the tradition preceding this date, specifically the afternoon and evening of May 2nd, has begun to deteriorate in neighborhoods like La Cruz Santa, an area with great historical and ethnographic significance.
Local residents have expressed their concern about the fading custom of decorating facade crosses, visiting them, and sharing moments with neighbors and visitors, a practice that included gastronomic invitations and music. This tradition, dating back centuries, has drastically diminished in the last five years, contrasting with its historical roots.
“"The tradition of decorating the numerous crosses in the area, visiting them, and sharing a traditional time with neighbors and visitors, with gastronomic invitations, music, and restaurants or 'guachinches' that used to be full, has weakened to the maximum."
The decline is partly attributed to a new festival organized by the local government, called Cuenta Atrás (Countdown), held in the old town hall square in Realejo Alto. This event, aimed at a younger audience, has concentrated attention and emptied the streets of La Cruz Santa, diluting a centuries-old custom in favor of a new festive habit.
Concerned neighbors have asked the local councilor to consider postponing the new festival by one day, to May 1st, to prevent the tradition of the crosses from being further jeopardized. The history of the crosses in this neighborhood dates back to the early 16th century, with a legend recounting how a knight was saved next to a cross, giving rise to the place's name and a deeply rooted tradition of festivities.
