The Asociación Cultural MAHO, fresh off a historic achievement with their Guinness World Record on November 15, 2024, is launching an exciting new project titled “Canarias Unida por la Tradición.” This initiative involves a relay race featuring the traditional Juego del Palo Canario, set to traverse 14 towns across Fuerteventura in a single day. Scheduled for Saturday, October 11, the event is supported by the Sports Department of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura.
The event promises to be a cultural celebration, showcasing the collaboration between various islands in the Canary archipelago. Delegations from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote will join the festivities, each representing their unique variations and styles of this rich cultural heritage. Notably, the MAHO Association will demonstrate the Juego de la Lata, one of the most distinctive forms of the majorero tradition.
This diversity of styles—including varied techniques and sizes of the canes used—will not only enrich the celebration but also symbolize a powerful message: despite differences, it is possible to foster understanding and strengthen the skills associated with the practice of Juego del Palo Canario. The involvement of this diverse array of groups underscores the strong connections within the Canary Islands and amplifies the central theme that culture unites the Canarian people.
The highlighted moments at each plaza during the event are expected to be emotionally charged and highly symbolic. Spectators will witness pairs of participants as they arrive, showcasing their skills before seeking synchronization with the next pair. The precise moment when the sound of sticks from both groups merges into a single rhythm will mark the transfer of tradition—a vivid analogy reflecting the emotional and meticulous nature of significant cultural moments in the Canary Islands. This echoes the famous meeting of the Virgen de los Reyes with dance and music groups during the Bajada in El Hierro, a key inspiration for this event.
“We want people not only to watch but to truly feel the passing of tradition. That moment of synchronization, where the sound of the sticks becomes one, symbolizes the heartbeat of our culture moving from one pair of hands to another. The participation of delegations from other islands enriches this heartbeat, illustrating that Juego del Palo, in all its diversity, is a dynamic and unifying heritage,” representatives from Asociación MAHO express.
The official itinerary for the day is as follows:
The cultural caravan will kick off from the Plaza de La Molina de Juan Morera in Corralejo at 8:15 AM on Saturday, October 11. Here’s the complete route with approximate arrival times:
- Corralejo (Departure 8:15 AM)
- La Lajares 8:50 AM
- La Oliva 9:20 AM
- Tindaya 10:00 AM
- Tetir 10:45 AM
- Puerto del Rosario 11:30 AM
- Antigua 12:30 PM
- Betancuria 3:00 PM
- La Vega de Rio Palmas 3:45 PM
- Pájara 4:30 PM
- Tuineje 5:15 PM
- Gran Tarajal 6:00 PM
- Tarajalejo 6:45 PM
- Morro Jable 8:00 PM
Given the extensive route, participants and attendees are encouraged to follow the account @juegodelpalomaho on Instagram for real-time updates and to confirm the estimated arrival times at each plaza, as there may be last-minute changes.
The Sports Department of the Cabildo supports this initiative under their event funding line. Grateful recognition goes to local municipalities, especially the City Council of Puerto del Rosario and the City Council of Antigua, where schools for families and adults have been established under the auspices of Asociación MAHO. The association is deeply committed to promoting culture and heritage as invaluable elements of identity. The idea of spreading the sound of the stick throughout the island is both simple and profound, aiming to bridge cultural gaps across the Canary Islands, with Fuerteventura as the focal point.
Residents and visitors alike are invited to gather in local plazas, eager to witness the arrival of the canes and partake in the collective excitement as tradition is passed down, experienced, and perpetuated.
