SER Historia – Leyendas Canarias (April 3, 2024)
Overview
In this special episode of SER Historia, host Nacho interviews journalist and expert on Canary Island myths, José Gregorio González, live from San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife. The conversation delves into the legendary history and enigmas of the Canary Islands, with a focus on the myth of the phantom island of San Borondón, local folklore, cultural fusion, legendary figures, and some of the archipelago’s most famous mysteries and ghost stories.
Main Themes & Purpose
- To explore the legends and myths of the Canary Islands, especially those that have shaped the region’s identity.
- To highlight how myth and history interweave, granting a unique richness to Canarian culture.
- To present stories from González's new book, Guía Mágica de Canarias, offering listeners a magical-historical tour of the islands.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Enigma of San Borondón
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The legend tells of an island that appears when not sought and disappears when actively pursued ([00:02]).
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Ancient cartography, dating back to Ptolemy in the 2nd century, maps the Canary Islands, noting a "superior, inaccessible" island ([00:22]). Different maps place San Borondón in either the Indian or North Atlantic Oceans ([00:35]).
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Expeditions over centuries sought the island due to hope and myth, with its existence taken so seriously that it appeared on territorial treaties between Spain and Portugal in 1519 ([00:50]).
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San Borondón was thought by some to be a granary during famines—"una tierra de sueños, de deseos y de anhelos" ([04:34] – González) and even assigned a governor and bishop though never physically found.
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González explains that recent attempts to explain San Borondón focus on atmospheric phenomena or mirages, and that it has inspired art, poetry, cartography, and legends for generations ([04:34]–[05:50]).
"San Borondón posiblemente para mí es la leyenda, el mito más potente, por el que más cariño siento de todos los que hay en Canarias y creo que eso es algo compartido por los canarios"
– José Gregorio González [03:59]
2. Cultural Syncretism in Tenerife & La Laguna
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The Canary Islands function as an absorbing "sponge" for various traditions: indigenous Guanche, Spanish, African, and American influences merge to produce unique local culture and legend ([06:20]).
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La Laguna is a place "preñado de misterios, de leyendas y de cosas curiosísimas" ([07:00] – González), including not only myths but remarkable historical figures.
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Example: Diego Correa, La Laguna-born adventurer, plotter against Napoleon, hero of the island’s defense during the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and more ([08:00]).
"Es un territorio de personajes de historia que también son patrimonio o enriquecen este patrimonio que hoy nos reúne aquí."
– González [08:56]
3. Pyramids, Mummies, and the Canary-Egypt Connection
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Nacho reflects on past popular fascination with the Güímar pyramids and comparative references to Egypt ([09:00]), noting that rigorous research has demystified many legends but preserved their magical feel.
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González emphasizes that even debunked myths add value by fueling public interest and deeper historical investigation ([10:16]–[10:50]).
"Todo suma. Hay cosas que se quedan evidentemente por el camino, que las aclaramos y celebramos que se aclaren y eso no les resta valor. Las empezamos a ver desde otra perspectiva."
– González [10:26] -
Both speakers agree that claims of a direct Egypt-Canaries connection are unfounded and mostly flourish in the imagination and older history books ([11:36], [11:59]). González explains how such explanations were often more fantastical than the mysteries themselves.
"La respuesta es más misteriosa que el propio misterio."
– González [12:48]
4. Mythic Archetypes and San Cristóbal
- Nacho connects local and global myth by describing the figure of Saint Christopher, referencing its roots in Egyptian iconography and storytelling ([13:00]–[14:44]).
- González points out the symbolic appropriateness of Saint Christopher as the patron of a city named "La Laguna," aligning the myth’s imagery with local geography ([14:47]).
5. The Value of Myth in Contemporary Culture
- Both agree that myths are an essential and enriching part of communal identity, "parte de nuestra propia esencia, de nuestra propia cultura, lo que da sentido a nuestra historia y a nuestro pasado" ([15:35]–[16:11]).
6. Ghosts and Love Stories of La Laguna
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González shares the famous legend of La Laguna’s "novia suicida": A young woman, Catalina, forced into marriage, takes her life on her wedding night. Her restless spirit is said to haunt the Museum of History ([17:17]).
"Es la historia de fantasmas más popular de La Laguna."
– González [17:20] -
Another poignant story is that of Sor Úrsula, a nun, and Jerónimo Grimón, a nobleman—whose forbidden love resulted in his decapitation and her double cloistering. Romantic legend claims their spirits walk together through the Plaza del Adelantado on spring nights ([18:00]–[19:25]).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On San Borondón:
"Fue fortificada incluso por Leonardo Torriani, sin existir, con lo cual imagínate la potencia..."
– González [05:40] -
On the importance of myth:
"No podemos explicar el presente si no conocemos esas leyendas y esos mitos del pasado."
– Nacho [15:54] -
On legend’s place in historical discourse:
"Yo creo que le da un toque, lo salpimenta... este tipo de historias, este tipo de mitos, de leyendas, esos hechos insólitos contribuyen a enriquecer y también a comprender la totalidad del discurso."
– González [16:32]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:02–01:00 – Introduction to San Borondón, ancient maps, and the legend’s origins
- 02:15 – José Gregorio González joins, introduction and context
- 03:38–05:55 – San Borondón: myth, scientific attempts at explanation, atmospheric phenomena
- 06:20–09:00 – Cultural fusion in Tenerife, historical figures, and legends of La Laguna
- 09:04–11:36 – Discussion of Canarian mummies, pyramids, and the mythic link to Egypt
- 11:59–12:50 – The search for explanations and the complexity of myth making
- 13:00–14:47 – Saint Christopher: the Christian and Egyptian link; symbolic resonance in La Laguna
- 17:17–19:25 – The "novia suicida" and legend of Sor Úrsula and Jerónimo Grimón
- 19:33–20:10 – Closing remarks and thanks
Conclusion
This episode offers an engaging, story-rich exploration of the deepest legends, mysteries, and cultural intersections that define the historical and imaginative landscape of the Canary Islands. Through lively dialogue, Nacho and José Gregorio González reinforce how myth and history remain inseparable threads shaping both local and universal identity—stories as relevant and resonant today as they ever were.