Church of the Guanche People
The Church of the Guanche People (Spanish: Iglesia del Pueblo Guanche) is a religious organisation, founded in 2001 in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It aims to perpetuate and spread the traditional religion of the ancient Guanche people.[1]
The church's official symbol | |
Formation | 2001 |
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Type | Guanche ethnic neopaganism |
Headquarters | San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain). |
Region | Canary Islands, Spain |
Website | Church of the Guanche People |
In 2008, the Church had approximately 300 members.[2] The Church of the Guanche People is included in the studies of minority religions in the Canary Islands.[3]
It was founded by a group of Canarian devotees of the goddess Chaxiraxi.[4] The Church of the Guanche People performed baptisms and weddings according to what they know of Guanche custom. On 2002, a wedding held in accordance with purported Guanche rites took place on the island of Tenerife—a practice not observed for several centuries since the Spanish domination of the archipelago.[5]
The Church of the Guanche People has its own liturgical calendar, which officially begins with the first celebration of Achu n Magek in 2001. According to this system, this is the year I of the Guanche New Age. 2018 would therefore be the year 18 on this calendar.[6]
The Church of the Guanche People is a modern pagan religious body representing Canarian Neopaganism.[7]
References
- La Iglesia del Pueblo Guanche. Consideraciones metodológicas. Gobierno de Canarias.
- Martin, Veronica (2008). 5% of Canarians profess a minority religion (Un 5% de canarios profesa una religión minoritaria), La Opinión de Tenerife newspaper, 3 October.
- Religiones entre continentes. Minorías religiosas en Canarias. Editado por la Universidad de La Laguna
- La Iglesia del Pueblo Guanche. Consideraciones metodológicas. Gobierno de Canarias.
- La Iglesia del Pueblo Guanche. Consideraciones metodológicas. Gobierno de Canarias.
- Religiones entre continentes. Minorías religiosas en Canarias. Editado por la Universidad de La Laguna
- La Iglesia del Pueblo Guanche. Consideraciones metodológicas. Gobierno de Canarias.