February 2nd, a day of celebrations

Tomorrow is one of those days that becomes important to me, precisely because it's my husband's birthday and the Day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the municipality of Candelaria where I live. We moved to this small town 40 years ago, and when we arrived, someone told us: "who comes to live in Candelaria, stays to live". How far I was from thinking that I would actually be here for so many years. My husband always says that by living here, the town also celebrates his birthday.

Already 18 days ago, I read a post by @castri-ja about a trip to Teide in Tenerife and specifically to a town called Candelaria. It's no coincidence because the immigrants from that region were the ones who brought our virgin of Candelaria, and thus our towns in Cuba and the Canary Islands were united. He told us that he had visited the Basilica of the place and contemplated the Virgin.

I remembered that there is a place here called Candelaria Virgin's Pocito (little well), which many people visit regularly and which is precisely guarded by this advocation of the Virgin Mary. The myth in our town is that drinking water from that well or getting wet from its water brings health and well-being to their families.

I became curious to go to there, so I got up very early one Sunday and went to confirm its beauty and to pray for my family, my friends, and everyone in general. The neighbors there told me that they had rebuilt that place with the help of devotees from the town, giving it an atmosphere of peace, surrounded by palm trees and benches where one can sit and meditate.

I sat down and spent some time feeling the freshness emitted by the vegetation and the pure air that comes from the nearby mountains. Incredibly, despite living here for so many years, I had never visited the little well, and I was truly impressed.

I saved my photos to edit this post today to tell you about what will happen tomorrow. After the morning religious service in the village church, the popular festivities begin around the park, and that is where we go to celebrate my husband's birthday. We always have a great time in the company of our friends and relatives who come for the birthday.

A friend who attended last year's procession allowed me to use the following photo.

We're home today preparing for tomorrow's party. February is a month of many birthdays in our family, including his, my youngest daughter's, and my sister's. It will be a month filled with parties and celebrations. Let's not forget that it's also the month of Love and Friendship, where we will celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th, as a family.