Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Homage to the Last Goat Herders of Teno

Last Saturday, in Teno Alto, Buenavista del Norte town hall and the Federación de Salto del Pastor Canario (literally, Canarian Federation of the Shepherds Leap), paid homage to Francisco González Regalado and his wife María del Rosario, inhabitants of the small hamlet (of approx. 100 people), who are some of the very few people left in the area, dedicated to keeping and grazing their flocks of goats in the Teno mountains and who also practice the sport of Salto del Pastor, "the Shepherd’s Leap".

It is a pity there was no photo with the report, because it is most likely that I know these people - at least on nodding terms - because it is hard not to know everyone around here and, because they are certain to be participants in the annual San Antonio rural fiesta in Buenavista del Norte, in January each year. My photo shows a flock that had come down from Teno Alto for that event. It could even be of the aforementioned people.

The Salto de Pastor started as a genuine means for shepherds to negotiate the difficult and steep terrain around the islands and those who still keep goats in those areas do still use it as such. However, like the Canary Islands Stick Fighting (which always reminds me of Robin Hood and Little John), the Shepherd's Leap has also been developed into a sport that you are likely to see at various folk gatherings and fiestas. "The Canarian palo (stick) is associated with three interrelated functions – self defense, animal herding, and traveling across difficult terrain. The latter function has developed into the spectacular folk sport of Salto del Pastor, "the Shepherd’s Leap", which features a form of pole-vaulting down rocky precipices and across ravines." Go here for more explanation and photos.

You can even take a course to become a Leaping Shepherd if you feel so inclined, see Curso de Salto del Pastor Canario, which page also has a couple of nice images.

Homenaje a Francisco González y María del Rosario, últimos cabreros de Teno en Buenavista

Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
From: Secret Tenerife Blog | Tenerife Daily Photo