Agüimes celebrates the different and exciting Traía del Gofio Festival on the last Saturday in September each year. The participants sprinkle and throw gofio, the Canarian corn-flour, and splash water at each other until everybody is covered in gofio from head to toe. For 40 years this festival has been celebrated and each year more people take part in it.
The town’s eldest tell the story that back in the forties, after the Spanish civil war, it was common for the villagers to walk up the valley of Guayadeque to have their corn ground at the only mill in the area. The mill still exist and it is called Molino de Ananías & Lolita.
The Gofio was then carried back to the village on donkeys. For a snack on the way back many used to prepare a delicious gofio pellet with the still warm gofio flour and a little water from the creeks found in the valley. In the early seventies a group of young men got together and decided to revive this tradition which turned into this mad celebration.
How the Traía del Gofio Festival is Celebrated
The Traía del Gofio Festival starts at the Molinos de Ananías y Lolita, which are located a few kilometres outside the town of Agüimes. At around 4 pm a huge crowd awaits to start the walk towards the Plaza del Rosario.
The participants of the entourage are dressed in the typical Canarian way as the village farmers did way back in the 40-ies. Black or gray trousers, white shirt, a black scarf, black or gray vest and a hat for the men. A black skirt, white blouse a black headscarf and apron for the ladies. Some take protection goggles to at least keep their eyes safe from the gofio dust. During the walk to the village, the crowd is accompanied by Papagüevos, giant puppets made of paper and fabrics, as well as a band bringing music and joy to this celebration.
Throughout the evening gofio is thrown all over the place by the partying crowd on their way to the village as they dance down the main entrance to it. Newcomers can get welcomed by a cloud of Gofio thrown from anywhere to get them straight away into the right mood. Mountains of corn flour end up covering everything as the crowd moves on.
Once the village is reached water takes the main role of the celebration. From the roofs of houses buckets of water are released by the villagers and some newcomers are armed with water-pistols. At the town square Plaza del Rosario of the small town of Agüimes the party continues with a big music festival reaching the early hours in the morning.
If you happen to be in Gran Canaria and in the mood for a different kind of village party in September, the Traia del Gofio Festival could be the right diversion for you.
Text: Juan Perdomo
Translation: Judith Schjorring
Quick Overview
- Event Name: Traía del Gofio y Agua
- Place: Agüimes – “Lolita y Ananías”
- Time: 16.oo onwards
- Date: Last saturday in September
- Duration: Afternoon and Evening
- Highlight: Traditional and music festival
- Dresscode: Traditional Canarian
- Link Official Website: Ayuntamiento de Agüimes
- Facebook link: Facebook- Agüimes
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My name is Juan, I am the Event guide and Spanish translator. I was born in Gran Canaria, although I have lived many years abroad.
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