June 18, 2023, 7:21 AM
June 18, 2023, 7:21 AM
This Sunday, after the 9:00 mass, the porongueños will leave in procession, carrying the image of San Juancito. They will look for a cuce tree for the ensebao stick that will be planted in the plaza. This is how the celebration of the feast of San Juan Bautista, patron saint of the town, begins.
The ensebao stick is part of the religion of the porongueños. Popular belief indicates that it is the saint who guides them to find the tree appropriate.
The cut of the ensebao stick marks the start of the program of activities for the festival of San Juan in Porongo, which is celebrated this Friday and Saturday with masses, baptisms, a bonfire and stomping on embers. Last Thursday began the prayer of the novena.
Marco Vilchez, head of Culture and Tourism of the Porongo Mayor’s Office, reported that the authorities and residents are organizing the party, which They expect more than 15,000 visitors to attend.
Over time, the porongueños keep the faith alive and preserve the traditions. This Friday the eve, as every year, a procession accompanied by the image of San Juan in a cart, will collect water in a jar from the river to baptize the new porongueños. Women dressed as tipoy will carry the pitcher in the middle of dances.
On the holiday it is traditional the dance of the Turks, what is a ritual that is performed every June 24 in homage to San Juan Bautista de Porongo. It is a theatrical and choreographic representation of the battle of the Moors and Christians that was taught by the Spanish priests as part of the catechization process.
People devotedly revive traditions. John Peredo remembers that 23 years agomotivated by faith, decided to run from the capital city, carrying the torchwith which the bonfire is lit for the eve.
The idea arose from the costumbrista poet Vidal Sosa (+), known as the carter in love, who actively participated in the organization of the festival.
By then Peredo was a young man who stood out in athletics. “Why don’t you bring the torch?” Sosa told him as a way of promoting faith, hope and customs among young people. And it is that with the torch the jenecherú is lit, the fire that never goes outsymbol of the earth changes.
That time, Peredo brought only the torch from the Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium and, later, year after year, other pilgrim athletes joined not only from Santa Cruz, but also from other regions of the country and even abroad. Many come to pay promises or ask for favors from the patron saint.
This time 18 athletes will participate, who will depart from the 24 de Septiembre square and they will cross the river until they reach Porongo for the lighting of bonfires. “I always ask him for health and work, and he complies with us,” says Peredo.
Gabriel Bayares Aponte was born and raised in the midst of Porongueña traditions. With more than seven decades of life, he is preparing to live the festival of San Juan Bautista de Porongo, which has always been one of the main ones, because it was expected with great devotion and it was even an occasion to release a new change. People did their best to participate in the novena to the patron saint, even in the middle of the slums on the streets and roads. “The party was expected to open ”, he comments.
“Before, the tradition of the bonfire was made among friends in the houses, then it was in the four corners of the field, but now there is only one for all the people who want to come,” said Gabriel.
Another tradition from before was that the punch warmed the coldest night. “Now people drink beer and don’t know what punch is,” he says.
He points out that, from generation to generation, the custom of bathing very early has passed. “The older people scavenged the plants that did not produce and We all went to bathe in the river even an old man watered all those who had not gone to bathe with water from the river. What is said is that the water of San Juan is blessed”.
Another practice that was followed before was to make a corralito to which sand was placed to see a little what was coming later. “In the morning we would get up to see what marked the corral, sometimes they were chicken, pig or footprints. That showed us what animals one was going to have and if they would have children or mobility, ”he recounted.
For the eve too a glass of steaming succumbé is inevitable, as part of the traditions. Victoria Gutiérrez (55) has been in charge of preparing this drink since she was fifteen years old.
He moves his hands with great lightness, beating the milk so that the succumbé comes out smooth and frothy. On the eve of San Juan, he distributes the drink among the parishioners and visitors so that they warm up on the coldest night of the year. He does not hesitate in share their secrets for a good sucumbé with those who ask. With a friendly character, she jokes when giving tips. “The secret is not to be jealous because if you are, the milk doesn’t come in. With just one look, the milk goes down, ”he says between laughs and adds that fresh milk, eggs, cinnamon and a good beat are also required.
Mother of four children, Victoria has collaborated with the Church since she was a child. She emphasizes that customs are kept alive, despite modernity. “San Juan is the one who protects and cares for our people,” she says.
