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Rosalía Gómez, the last slave of Tenerife

"Rosalía Gómez, the last slave of Tenerife"; Nelson Díaz Frías discovers an unpublished history of slaves in Arona.

"This is an impressive and hitherto unknown true story of a woman of flesh and blood, called Rosalía Gómez, who was born at the beginning of the 19th century as a slave in the south of Tenerife." Thus begins the new book by the prolific historian Nelson Díaz Frías, entitled 'Rosalía Gómez (1801-1874), la última esclava de la isla de Tenerife' (Rosalía Gómez (1801-1874), the last slave on the island of Tenerife), which will be presented in the coming weeks.

This work, sponsored by the Department of Historical Heritage of the Arona City Council, collects the unpublished story of this woman, who lived in the south of Tenerife for much of the 19th century, and whose mere existence constitutes, in itself, a historical anachronism.

“This new book by historian Nelson Díaz Frías reveals a reality in our history that many people will be surprised by”, says Councilor José Alberto Delgado.

Rosalía Gómez was the last person subjected to slavery on the island of Tenerife and, most likely, also the last slave in Spain, discounting the American overseas territories of Cuba and Puerto Rico. In this book, Nelson Díaz Frías hits us, with the precision of data, with the biography of the last Tenerife slave, a woman whose existence barely reached beyond the limits of the municipality of Arona and who was born a slave for the simple fact that her mother was a slave, as well as her grandmother and all her maternal ancestors before her, constituting a unique and astonishing case of a whole lineage of slave women subjected to captivity, generation after generation from the 16th to the 19th century, at the hands of the successive generations of the same family of the rural bourgeoisie of Chasna.

Rosalía was born in Charco del Pino (Granadilla de Abona), in 1801. At just 10 years old, she was separated from her family and transferred to Arona, a municipality where she would spend the rest of her life, when she was sold to her third and last owner. The first was Antonio Gómez del Castillo, mayor of Granadilla at the beginning of the 19th century, hence she adopted his surname. Because of the family uprooting of the slaves and their social marginalization, they were not even aware of their true lineage,” Díaz Frías explained.

The investigation has revealed that Rosalía had offspring despite her single status. She gave birth to three children who, like their mother and ancestors, acquired the status of slaves from the day they were born, but were never sold at the will of their first and only owner, reaching freedom in adolescence as a result of the abolition law enacted in 1837. 

Díaz Frías' study determines that the last slave in Tenerife achieved her freedom at the age of 40 and the status of servant three years after the abolition law was approved. Her new condition would be acquired from her last owner, José Medina, great-grandfather of Juan Bethencourt Alfonso, a renowned doctor and anthropologist from San Miguel.

The author explains that Rosalía would end up settling after a few years in a humble house in the hamlet of Túnez (Arona), where she died in 1874. The house in which she lived from the age of 10 until she was liberated three decades later still exists in the church square in Arona and today it is owned by the descendants of José Medina. In the book there is a photo of the house and even of the room where Rosalía Gómez very possibly rested.

Nelson Díaz Frías explains, "I came across a burial certificate from November 1874 by pure chance, where the details of the late Rosalía Gómez, her parentage, her age ... and a note made by the priest that caught my attention were recorded: "The late Rosalía Gómez was brought to this town as a slave girl ”. I was curious and wanted to investigate who that woman was, if she left offspring and which family she served as a slave”.

“It is the first lineage that I find of slaves in which I have been able to trace their ancestry practically until the beginning of the seventeenth century, and also enslaved by the same Vilaflor and Arona family generation after generation. Her great-great-grandmother is the oldest of this lineage at the beginning of the 17th century and this great-great-grandmother's ancestors were slaves of African origin, although Rosalía was a white woman”.

In addition, this work contains essential chapters to better understand the phenomenon of slavery in the society of the south of Tenerife in past centuries, although the bulk of the work is dedicated to the unfortunate life of the slave Rosalía Gómez, who came to Arona when she was bought by the rich, Don José Antonio Medina, as well as the unpleasant circumstances of her ancestors and the slave family to which they belonged.

Díaz Frías emphasizes that Adeje concentrated the largest number of slaves in the South because it was a jurisdictional manor owned by the Marquis of Adeje. Many worked the sugar cane, which required great physical effort. "To this day, it is known in Adeje and also in Los Cristianos the families that come from black slaves," he says.

The book is complemented with a genealogical study of the descendants of the freed slave, as well as the lineages descended from slaves in the south of Tenerife, today represented by, among others, the names of Marcelino, Melián, Morales, Salazar and Urbano.

When asked about the message that he would like to remain among the readers of his latest work, Díaz Frías argues that “I have only tried to give a voice to a woman who never had one and who, at least, was able to live half of her life in freedom unlike her ancestors, who died slaves. The book tries to provide a lesson for the present and the future, which is to maintain hope in the men and women who fight for a more just society."

Christmas Eve Dinner in La Laguna

Produce in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Municipal Market

As in most Spanish provinces, there are special typical recipes for every occasion and Christmas is no exception. For those who have planned to visit on these dates, in addition to ensuring good weather, we want to guide you through our gastronomy so that you can take home a delicious memory. For those of us who celebrate it as a family, our journey through Christmas recipes undoubtedly begins by visiting the market, to the stalls to which we go year after year to acquire the best ingredients for our typical Christmas Eve dinner.

The market looks splendid as always at this time of year, adorned with garlands, lights and animated Christmas carols. In each house and on each island they have their own particular favourites, we want to show you the most common ones, the ones that are never missing from the dinner table of La Laguna families.

Starters

We start by welcoming our guests with a tray of langoustines, homemade croquettes and local cheeses with mojo sauces and, of course, the star of our starters, the famous pata de cochino asada (roast leg of pork).

Fish 

The most used on these dates are cherne (grouper) and cod that we will serve in the most traditional way, with onions and accompanied by some papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) and bathed with cilantro (coriander) or spicy mojo sauce.

Meats 

Goat kid in adobo and rabbit in salmorejo are the main stars of our gastronomy although they take on a special role in our tables for Christmas.

Beyond the typical Christmas desserts such as the turrones (nougats), polvorones and marzipans, what Canarians really love to eat are the Truchas de Batata (Sweet Potato Pies) and Pella de Gofio, a delicious dough made with gofio, honey and nuts, served accompanied by a sweet local wine.

Is this Tenerife's first curfew?

The Monumento a los Caídos (a tribute to the fallen - a memorial to the victors - in the Spanish Civil War) in the Plaza de España, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Photo: Florival fr, CC BY 1.0

The history of the island records moments in which this measure of public order has been used when there was a risk of not being able to contain disturbances or compromised situations for the rebellions against the Second Republic and during the Spanish Civil War. On this occasion, contrary to what happened throughout history, the reason for decreeing it is not war or military issues. The pandemic forces the use of a tool - normally imposed by military authorities - that restrains movement when night falls and has been commented on daily in recent weeks that, although it might seem novel, has already been lived under.

The history of curfews in democratic Spain

The measure was used in medieval times to protect citizens, and in the founding of the liberal State, to repress workers' uprisings.

The curfew is a measure that can be applied within the state of alarm, a phrase that we are already more than used to since the pandemic began. The only time that a curfew has been proclaimed in Spain in peace time, was during the historic 1981 Spanish coup d'état attempt, but only in Valencia. That night, the tanks took to the streets and military officials enacted a ruling that prohibited the movement of more than two people on public roads from nine at night to six in the morning, a period of time very similar to that of the measures adopted by some provinces and regions this December 2020.

But ... where exactly does the origin of curfews in Spain come from? At what other significant moments in our history has it been applied? "This is a measure that originally, in medieval times, was designed to offer protection to citizens when fires were one of the greatest threats to cities built mostly with wood," says Fernando Fernández Bastarreche, researcher at the Contemporary History area of ​​the University of Granada (UGR). "The bell reminded people that the time had come to 'turn off the lights' and go home.

¿Este es el primer toque de queda que vive Tenerife?

Frangollo, a Canarian Dessert

Frangollo, a Canarian Dessert

Frangollo is one of the Canarian desserts par excellence, more so on the island of Tenerife. Milk, cornmeal, lemon, eggs, sugar, butter, raisins, almonds and cinnamon are fundamental ingredients, although there are areas of the archipelago where it is made with water instead of milk and others ingredients such as matalaúva (anise), are added. Good any time, but with the flavours of the dried fruits and liqueur, this is perfect for the Christmas season.

Ingredients:

200 gr. Frangollo (Cornmeal)
1 L. of whole milk
1 Cinnamon stick
Rind of a Lemon
30 gr. of butter
2 egg yolks
5 tablespoons of sugar
60 gr. of Raisins 
60 gr. Almond
Liqueur to taste (optional)
Honey, or better Miel de Palma (optional)

Method

Marinate the raisins in liquor - like Ron Miel (honey rum) - or water until you need them. Peel the almonds, roast them in the oven until they are golden brown, then grind them. Put the milk in a pan with the cinnamon stick and the lemon peel and heat until it starts to boil. Remove the cinnamon stick and the lemon and add the Frangollo (cornmeal) and stir vigorously so that there are no lumps. 

Add the butter and sugar and stir until it starts to boil again, once it has boiled, lower the heat to a minimum. Leave it until it forms like a thick cream (approx. 25-30 min), stirring from time to time to avoid sticking. Remove from the heat, allow to cool slightly, add the two egg yolks and beat quickly so that they do not scramble. Strain raisins to remove excess water or liquor and add them along with the ground almonds. Stir well and serve in individual bowls, with a little honey or Miel de Palma, although it is optional. It can be eaten either hot and cold.


Tenerife in December 2020

Inmaculada Concepción (The Immaculate Conception)

December begins with two National public holidays on Mon 7 December - Monday in lieu as 6 December falls on a Sunday - for Día de la Constitución Española (Constitution Day and Tue 8 December for Inmaculada Concepción (The Immaculate Conception). The four days, including the weekend, make un puente (translates to bridge) or short break for many people. It's customary to put up Christmas decorations on the weekend closest to 8 December, but the holiday period always kicks off proper with El Gordo (The Fat One), the Spanish Christmas Lottery, which is drawn on 22 December.

Theatre, film, exhibitions, music and dance are all included in the culture program for the Christmas period. The Guimerá Theater will offer shows for children, as will the La Recova Scenic Space. It was also announced that the Book Fair will be held from December 3 to 8 in the Palmetum car park.

Folk groups will tour the districts animating the streets with Christmas carols, activities in which the three bands of the municipality will also participate. The city's shop windows will become improvised art galleries, where artists will exhibit their creations. On December 5 the nativity scene in the Plaza de la Candelaria will be inaugurated, while on the 15th the Palmetum will open to the show Naturaleza Encendida (literally, Nature Lit Up), which has already sold 2,000 tickets.
 
Christmas Day, Fri 25 December is a Public holiday. For Canarians, this is often recovery day after a big [limited this year] family gathering on Christmas Eve that involved a whole barbecued goat kid and lots of turrón and other traditional Christmas sweets. Boxing Day isn't a thing in Spain or the Canaries.

The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has decided to cancel the XXVIII edition of the Christmas Concert, usually held on December 25. It will be the first time that this Christmas event, held every year since 1994, has been cancelled. Normally, it has brought together thousands of people in the port of Tenerife to enjoy the best classical music live by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.

Christmas in La Orotava: After the Christmas lights switch on and the inauguration of the nativity outside the town hall took place, the online portal for sending a letter to Los Reyes was opened and a Virtual wine tasting wit Bodegas Tajinaste was held. On Friday 4 December, there is a further Virtual Wine Tasting with Bodegas Tafuriaste and the inauguration of the Nativity at the Liceo de Taoro, where an art exhibition opens. As many of these events are being transmitted via La Orotava town hall's social media, this opens them up, not only to locals, but the world.

From Friday 18 December until Tuesday 5 January, a Christmas Crafts Fair will be present in the Plaza de la Constitución, La Orotava.

Finally, there are 32 nativity displays to see on the town's XIII Ruta de Belenes 2020 for which you can download the full program (PDF) here. As well as being able to visit these in person, this is also being accompanied by a Virtual Route made up of small videos of each one of the nativity scenes. These will be published progressively through various Facebook pages, including the Prensa Ayuntamiento La Orotava.

There are no municipal public holidays in December.

On 28 December, beware of El Día de Los Santos Inocentes (Day of the Innocent Saints), the Spanish equivalent of April Fool's Day. 

And that, of course, brings us to the end of the year and New Year's Eve. Spanish Television will broadcast the chimes from the Plaza de España and the fireworks displays in the five districts celebrating the New Year.

Tenerife Land of Eternal Christmas

Sunbathing SantaDesert Island ChristmasScuba Diving SantaTropical Santa
Santa's Having a Whale of a TimeSurfing SantaWaterski SantaCamel Rodeo Santa
With a wide range of products in each design, click the pics (above) to see the full selections.