Come shake your branches at the Fiesta de la Rama branch festival in Agaete, Gran Canaria

The Fiesta de la Rama involves lots of dancing and branch waving / Wikimedia

23 July 2018, 11:10

The Fiesta de la Rama

When: 4th August 2018
Where: Agaete, Spain
Website: grancanaria.com

Agaete is located in the north of the island of Gran Canaria and the Fiesta de la Rama is held in honour of the Virgen de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows). This popular festival is held in memory of the aborigines, who used to perform rites to the gods so that the rains would come. Nowadays, the inhabitants walk through the streets of Agaete carrying branches that they wave non-stop.

Agaete in the Canary Islands

If you’ve ever wondered what to visit in Agaete, a beautiful village with clean streets and a laid-back atmosphere, read on and we’ll show you all the attractions that the municipality has to offer.

The Canary Islands are one of the most popular tourist destinations for visitors. The origin of the island of Gran Canaria is volcanic, which when combined with its incredible and humid spring temperatures fills everything with vegetation, making it a paradise for mountain and beach lovers.

This village stands out for its excellent beaches between cliffs, the Canarian food and the Port of Las Nieves. The views are unparalleled, and it even has beaches for all tastes. Some of them go alongside the promenade with a wide range of restaurants and terraces, while others, more remote, are popular with nudists. What's more, you can do all kinds of nautical sports in the marina.

Among its historical heritage is the Ermita de las Nieves, a hermitage whose origins date back to the 17th century. The typical fishermen's houses were built around the hermitage, giving it its current distinctive appearance. Also noteworthy are the Casa Fuerte (15th century), the church of La Concepción (rebuilt in the 19th century) and the Huerto de las Flores, a beautiful botanical garden.

Make like a tree and branch out to the Fiesta de la Rama

The Fiesta de la Rama, which translates as the Branch Party, is celebrated every year on 4th August when thousands of people take to the streets to shake their branches to the sound of music. All together, they make the same journey through the streets of the town, the final stop being the sanctuary of the Virgin, where a religious offering takes place.

This peculiar celebration begins with the popular "Bajada de la Rama" (Descent of the Branch) at around 10 a.m. During the whole day, the dances never stop happening, while everyone carries branches that never stop moving. The day usually ends with a short military march, and then a big firework show.

The very next day there is a pilgrimage, where the Virgen de las Nieves is taken from her hermitage to the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (Our Lady of the Conception). The Virgin statue stays there for about 15 days until they take her back to her hermitage.