In September take places one of the events that more people of Lanzarote attracts. The romería of Los Dolores (Lady of Sorrows) is an event where devotion, craftwork, tradition, folklore and fun mix together. An event that does not care about ages and that attracts people of every Canary Island.
The Virgin of Los Dolores, the patron saint of Lanzarote, makes everybody go on a pilgrimage to Mancha Blanca, where the hermitage is. From the very beginning of September is possible to see people walking to there to fulfil their promises. Every year the same tradition is carried out. 
This year the romeria is the 14th of September and, following the tradition, wagon and pilgrims depart from Tinajo to Mancha Blanca to give their offering to the Virgin. This pilgrimage is accompanied by little groups of music (parrandas) and folklore groups that provide the music to this festivity day. There we have the opportunity to see the different kind of typical dresses not only of Lanzarote but also from other islands.
The timples* play to the sound of the music (isas and folias) while the pilgrims share food: cheese, pejines (small dry sardine) and wine. The landscape of Lanzarote will be full of men with their cachorro (typical hat) and women with their sombrera (other typical hat for women). The 14th of September, every road or path will take to Mancha Blanca.
The history said that the hermitage of Los Dolores were built ther because there where the Virgin stopped the lava of the volcano. The people of Tinajo were living an authentic hell due to the eruptions that were taking place in Timanfaya. The lava was near to the village, endanger the live of the residents.
At the very beginning of April 1736, the Father Guardián was the one who called for a procession to go to Mancha Blanca. The people of the village carried a picture of Our Lady of Sorrows that was held in the St. Roque’s church. They walked to the Guiguan mountain and after prayers and supplications they promised to the Virgin that they would build a hermitage if she stopped the burning rivers of lava that threatened to bury the village.
A man, who even risking his live, walked the most he could and put a Cross of wooden in the border of the river of lava. Meanwhile, the neighbours continued with their prayers for compassion. The lava seemed to continue but suddenly when it reach the Cross the lava stopped. The residents to the cry of “Miracle, miracle” they also celebrated that the Virgin has listened their prayers and avoid a tragedy. 
In tribute to her, the residents built the hermitage that today is a must visit if you go to Mancha Blanca. A modest hermitage that transmits principles, traditions and respect for the people of Lanzarote.
The devotion to the Virgin has been kept for decades and the days of the festivity in addition to the romeria, it takes places events like the Insular Fair of Crafts. This year it is celebrated its XXXII edition and there you can find artisans of Lanzarote, from other islands and sometimes, from other regions of Spain that come as guest. It is also celebrated the XXXI Memorial “Folclórico Nanino Díaz Cutillas” (a folklore music festival) that this year takes place the 13th of September. In it different groups of the archipelago liven up the public with folklorical and traditional music.
*Timple: a traditional 5-string plucked string instrument of the Canary Islands.
Cover photo: canariasactual.com Photos by: - MassCultura.com - Alsolajero.com - CabildodeLanzarote.com - LaProvincia.es
Check out our Travel Tips
sending...