Beñesmen facts for kids

The Beñesmen or Beñesmer was a super important festival for the ancient people of the Canary Islands. It was especially celebrated by the Guanches, who lived on the island of Tenerife. This festival was all about the harvest, celebrating when crops were gathered.

It was like their "New Year" because it marked the start of a new cycle. The Beñesmen helped organize their lives and celebrated their cultural and spiritual traditions. This special event happened during the first full moon in August. The Guanches even called the month of August "Beñesmen."

Celebrating the Harvest and New Year

The Beñesmen festival was a time for both practical planning and spiritual thanks. It helped the Guanches manage their resources and connect with their beliefs.

Organizing Daily Life

During the Beñesmen, the Guanches held important meetings called Tagoror. These meetings were places where everyone gathered to make big decisions. They would decide how to share the land for farming. They also planned out areas for herding animals and for fishing.

Important resources like cattle and honeybees were also divided up. Everyone in the community was given tasks for the new year. This helped make sure that all the work needed for the year was planned out.

Giving Thanks to the Gods

The Beñesmen was also a very spiritual time. The Guanches used this day to thank their gods and ask for good things to come. They especially honored their two most important gods: Magec and Achamán. They also honored Chaxiraxi, whom they later connected with the Catholic Christian Virgin of Candelaria.

To show their thanks, the Guanches performed special rituals. One ritual involved breaking a gánigo, which was a type of clay pot, filled with milk and honey. Another ritual used green candles. These actions were their way of showing respect and asking for blessings.

Beñesmen Today

Over time, some parts of the Beñesmen festival changed. When Christianity came to the Canary Islands, some traditions were blended. For example, the festival of the Virgin of Candelaria was officially moved from February 2 to August 15. This new date matched the Christian celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Today, the big pilgrimage to Candelaria is a reminder of the ancient Beñesmen festival. This pilgrimage happens during the night of August 14 to 15. Many groups still hold cultural events to celebrate the Beñesmen. These events keep the ancient traditions alive for new generations.

See also

• Guanches
• Church of the Guanche People
• Virgin of Candelaria