Tenerife Fiestas for October 2017

The goat is traditionally the mascot of the Spanish Legion
and was seen here in the military parade on October 12.

October 12 is celebrated as the National Day or Fiesta Nacional de Espana in Spain. It is also called Hispanic Day or the Dia de la Hispanidad. The day is also celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Columbus in Americas. Since 2000, October 12 has also been Spain's Day of the Armed Forces, celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid.

October 12 is a National Public holiday in Spain.

There are the following Municipal Public Holidays in October:

- 2 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo de la Salud in Arona.
- 9 October: Festivity of Santa Úrsula, Patrona de la Villa in Adeje.
- 16 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo del Calvario in El Tanque.
- 21 October: Día de Santa Úrsula, Patrona del Municipio in Santa Úrsula.
- 25 October: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte.

And the following fiestas are celebrated in October:

- Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in Adeje.
- Nuestra Señora del Rosario on 3 October in Fasnia.
- Nuestra Señora del Rosario on 7 October in El Rosario.
- Fiestas del Pilar on 12 October in Granadilla.
- Fiestas of Cristo del Calvario from 15 to 20 October in El Tanque.
- Fiestas Patronales on 21 October in Santa Úrsula.
- Fiestas of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza on 22 to 24 October in La Guancha. 
- Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios on 24 October in Buenavista del Norte.

Fiestas in Buenavista del Norte

The fiestas in Buenavista are quite important and last for many days. In addition to religious, cultural and sporting events, folkloric and musical groups are traditional.

Image: By CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Tenerife's Public Holidays for 2018

The Canarian Government have agreed the calendar for public holidays in 2018:

– 1 January (Año Nuevo/New Year)
– 6 January (Epifanía del Señor/Epihany)
– 2 February (Tenerife’s own day to honour patron Virgen de la Candelaria)
– 29 March (Jueves Santo/Easter Thursday)
– 30 March (Viernes Santo/Easter Friday)
– 1 May (Fiesta del Trabajo/Workers’ Day)
– 30 May (Día de Canarias/Canaries Day)
– 15 August (Asunción de la Virgen/Assumption)
– 12 October (Fiesta Nacional de España/Spain Day)
– 1 November (Todos los Santos/All Saints Day)
– 6 December (Día de la Constitución Española/Constitution Day)
- 25 December (Natividad del Señor/Christmas Day)

Nine of those are "fixed" National Fiestas, two are decided at the the level of the Canary Islands, then each island also has an additional day of it’s own, which in Tenerife’s case is 2 February for Candlemass – for the island’s patron’s day, the Virgen de la Candelaria, bringing the total number of public holidays in 2018 to 12. In addition to this, each municipality will have a further 2 local days, making the total 14.

(The Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) on 8 December, is not a public holiday in 2018 as it already falls on a Saturday.)

Calendario Laboral Tenerife 2018 (Download PDF)

Tenerife Fiestas in September 2017

Cristo de La Laguna

The month's biggest celebrations are the Fiestas de Cristo in La Laguna, now in it's 410th year, as the justices had first declared 14th September a day of celebration in 1607, motivated by the miracles attributed to the Cristo de La Laguna.

From around 8pm on 13th September from the Plaza de la Concepción, is the Caballitos de Fuegos y pandorgas (chariots of fire parade with giants and floats), culminating in fireworks from the Montaña de San Roque at midnight. On 14th September from 11pm there are the now infamous fuegos del Risco y la traca - traditional noisy firework display - and the arrival of the image of the Holy Christ to the square after a procession through the streets of the city. And on 16th September in the Plaza del Cristo is the REGGAE CAN FESTIVAL.

September begins with the annual Pinolere Craft Fair, a three day event on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September, held at the Parque Etnográfico de Pinolere in La Orotava. 

September is a month without any national public holidays, however, there are a number of Municipal Public Holidays:

- 4 September: Fiesta of the municipality's patron in La Victoria de Acentejo.
- 7 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora del Socorro in Güímar.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Abona in Arico.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Luz in Los Silos.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Tegueste.
- 11 September: Fiesta of San José in San Juan de la Rambla.
- 14 September: Fiesta of the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna in La Laguna.
- 18 September: Celebration of the Santísimo Cristo de la Dulce Muerte in Guía de Isora.
- 29 September: Festivity of San Miguel Arcángel in San Miguel de Abona.

Elsewhere his month sees the following events: on 7th September there's the Romería Bajada del Socorro in Güímar; the Fiestas patronales en honor a la Virgen de La Luz de la Villa de Los Silos the biggest day of which is on 8th September; also on the 8th is the Fiesta of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Tegueste, on 17th September there's the Romería en Honor a San José in San Juan de La Rambla, on 21st September the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Luz is celebrated in Guía de Isora as well as the Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo in Tacoronte and also during the second half of the month, will be the Fiestas de Ntra Sra de la Consolación in the village and valley of El Palmar in Buenavista Del Norte. 

Photo: By elduendesuarez (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Romería de San Roque in Garachico

Every year on 16th August, Garachico celebrates its Fiesta Romería de San Roque, Garachico - it's one of the oldest and most important on Tenerife.

Romería San Roque Garachico 2016

Tenerife Fiestas in August 2017

Guanche statue in Candelaria

The 15th August is a national public holiday for Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption).

August is a month that's packed with fiestas and romerías, but the biggest event in August each year is the Peregrinación a Candelaria (pilgrimage) and fiestas in Candelaria, which take place on the 14th and 15th of August. The most popular part of the annual celebrations is the Ceremony of the discovery of the Virgin of Candelaria, which takes place in the Plaza outside the Basilica on 14th August from about 7:30pm.

August fiesta dates for your diary:

- 6th August: Fiestas Patronales in La Matanza de Acentejo.
- 7th August: Romería in honour of Ntra. Sra. de La Esperanza in La Esperanza
- 13th August: Bajada de las Hayas in honour of Ntra. Señora de La Esperanza in La Guancha.
- 15th August:  Pilgrimage to the Basílica de Nrta. Señora de La Candelaria in Candelaria
- 16th August: Romería de San Roque in Garachico.
- 17th - 25th August: Fiestas de Santa Barbara in Icod de los Vinos.
- 21st August: Fiestas of San Joaquín (Joachim) in Fasnia.
- 24th August: Fiestas of San Bartolomé in Buenavista del Norte.
 - 24th August: Fiestas of San Bartolomé in Tejina, La Laguna - Fiesta de Los Corazones de Tejina (Hearts of Tejina) .
- 26th August: Romería de San Agustín in Arafo (on the last Saturday).
- 28th - 29th August: Fiestas of María Auxiliadora in Fasnia.
- 30th August: Fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) in El Tanque.

Municipal Public Holidays in August:

- 7 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza in El Rosario.
- 7 August: Día de El Salvador in La Matanza de Acentejo.
- 16 August: Festivity of San Roque in Garachico.
- 21 August: Fiesta Patronal de San Joaquín in Fasnia.
- 21 August: Monday of the Fiestas Patronales in La Guancha.
- 24 August: Festivity of San Bartolomé in Buenavista del Norte.
- 28 August: Festivity of San Bernardo in Arafo.
- 28 August: Festivity of San Roque y San Agustín in Vialflor. 
- 31 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Buen Viaje in El Tanque.



Romería San Roque Garachico 2016

Tenerife Fiestas in July 2017

Fiestas de Carmen in Los Realejos

July is another month with no national public holidays in Tenerife, although there are the following local Municipal Public Holidays in the districts mentioned.

- 11 July: Festivity of the Virgen del Carmen in Puerto de la Cruz
- 25 July: Festivity of Santiago Apóstol in Santiago del Teide
- 26 July: Festivity of Santa Ana in Candelaria, Garachico and Santiago del Teide
- 31 July: Fiestas del Carmen in Los Realejos



Embarcación Virgen del Carmen Puerto de la Cruz 2016

The biggest events of July each year are the Fiestas del Carmen and none more so than the Embarkation - The Fishermen’s Fiesta - held in Puerto de la Cruz. Thousands of people gather on the fishing dock to watch the arrival of the Virgin as she is carried by fishermen onto one of the boats before setting sail on an maritime procession. You can get a pretty good idea of the scale of these fiestas from these aerial photos of the fiesta.

Tenerife’s Virgen del Carmen summer fiesta season 2017

Fiestas and Romerías taking place this month include:

- 9 July: (Second Sunday) Romería of San Benito Abad in La Laguna
- 11 July: Fiestas del Gran Poder de Dios and the Virgen del Carmen (a.k.a. July Fiestas) in Puerto de la Cruz. The Fiestas run right through from 1st - 30th July, but the big day for the Embarkation takes place this year on Tuesday, 11th July. (Always the Tuesday before the 16th.)
- 16 July: Fiestas del Carmen in Los Realejos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- 25 July: Fiestas of Santa Ana in Candelaria
- 25 July: Fiestas of Santiago Apóstol in Los Realejos
- 25 July: Commemoration of the Battle of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz 
- 27 July: Fiestas of San Cristóbal in San Cristóbal de La Laguna



The Epic Feat of 25 July "25 July in 1797 was a key date for the history of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Island's capital city. This was the day when a major battle broke out against the troops of the British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who tried unsuccessfully to conquer Tenerife. Nowadays, this major feat is commemorated with a re-enactment of the naval battle performed by locals and actors."

Image: By Javier1989canario (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Día de San Juan in Puerto de la Cruz

The traditional bathing of the goats (not always willingly, on their part) is taking place on Saturday, 24th June 2017, at the old harbour and the decoration of the public fountains, make San Juan's day unique in the municipality of Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife.

Tenerife Fiestas in June 2017

Day of the carpets in La Orotava

There are no public holidays in Tenerife in June.

Local holidays in individual municipalities in June include:

- 22 June: Infraoctava (the 8th day) of Corpus Christi in La Orotava.
- 24 June: Festivity of San Juan in Los Silos and San Juan de la Rambla.
- 29 June: Festivity of San Pedro Apóstol in El Sauzal and in Güímar.

As for celebrations, rest up at the beginning of the month as it gets busy all at once:

Güímar Pyramids, Tenerife

If previous years' events are repeated, then on Wednesday, 21st June 2017, you will be able to celebrate the Summer solstice at Güímar Pyramids and observe the orientation of the pyramids with the sunset on the horizon, and the famous “double sunset”. 

Floral carpets in the making in La Orotava

The Día de alfombras (Day of the Carpets) takes place in La Orotava this year on Thursday, 22nd June 2017. This the day that the townspeople decorate the streets of the town with temporary carpets made from petals and other floral materials, which are then walked on and destroyed by the religious procession in the early evening. It is truly one of the most beautiful spectacles and there is no substitute for being there in person and experiencing the ambience and the intoxicating aroma of millions of petals and several tons of toasted pine leaves that pervades the air.

Enrame de los chorros, Puerto de la Cruz

Also on Thursday, 22nd June 2017, pop down to Puerto de la Cruz, where you can see the Enrame de los chorros, where seven old public drinking fountains are decorated with floral and vegetal adornments.

Playa Jardin

The next evening, Friday, 23rd June 2017, on Playa Jardin, Punta Brava, Puerto de la Cruz, on the Eve of San Juan, the Noche de San Juan is celebrated, which brings together pagan rituals with a free open-air festival of music and bonfires on the beach. Yes, free. In Britain you'd pay hundreds of pounds for similar in a muddy field!



The following morning, on Saturday, 24th June 2017, watch the baño de las cabras as 300+ goats get their annual, ritual bath in the waters of the old fishing port in Puerto de la Cruz.

San Juan 2016 en Puerto de la Cruz
Fiesta San Juan, Puerto de la Cruz




Then on Sunday, 25th June 2017, La Orotava celebrates the wonderfully colourful Romería de San Isidro, one of the largest of these traditional pilgrimages, celebrated in the town ever since the second half of the 17th century. 

And, finally, during the second half of June and into July, the Fiestas de San Pedro are celebrated on both the north and south of the island with various galas, music, folklore, etc. The principal areas where this fiesta is celebrated are in El Sauzal and in Güímar.

Guide to Romerías in Tenerife 2017

Guide to Romerías in Tenerife 2017

Romerías -- a kind of procession with folk dressed in traditional attire, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing - not to mention the free food and even freer flowing wine - in honour of a saint are one of the most colourful and fun ways to enjoy and immerse yourself in some Canarian culture. Many of these romerías have been celebrated for centuries, even if the "traditional" costumes are more recent inventions.

And every year there is an ample programme. Some of the below have, of course,  already passed this year (the list has only just become available), but I'm including them as it gives an indication for future years. This still doesn't include every single one in every town and village, many of which take place over the summer months, so watch out for them.

January

• 14/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Sebastián – San Sebastián de La Gomera
• 15/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Tigaiga – Los Realejos
• 15/01/2017– Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Arona Casco
• 15/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Chío – Guía de Isora
• 20/01/2017 – Eucaristía in honor of San Sebastián Mártir – Adeje
• 28/01/2017 – Romería Chica in honor of San Antonio Abad y La Virgen de la Esperanza y Baile de Magos – La Florida – La Orotava
• 29/01/2017 – 36th Romería de San Antonio Abad and Virgen de la Esperanza – La Florida – La Orotava 
• 29/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Buenavista del Norte

February

• None.

March

• 18/03/2017 - Romería de San José Barranco Hondo - CANDELARIA

April

• 30/04/2017 – Romería de San Marcos – Tegueste

May

• 01/05/2017 – Paseo Romero – Tíncer – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 02/05/2017 –  Baile de Magos – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 14/05/2017 – Romería in honor of La Virgen de Fátima – Valle San Lorenzo – Arona
• 15/05/2017 – Romería chica San Isidro Labrador – Los Realejos
• 21/05/2017 – Romería el Chorrillo – El Rosario
• 26/05/2017 – Romería La Corujera – Santa Úrsula
• 28/05/2017 – Romería San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza – Los Realejos
• 30/05/2017 – Romería in honor of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza – Las Mercedes – La Laguna

June

• 11/06/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Granadilla de Abona
• 23/06/2017 – Baile de Magos – La Orotava
• 24/06/2017 – Subida del Santo – San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza (Romería Chica) – La Orotava
• 25/06/2017 – Romería San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza – La Orotava

July

• 02/07/2017 – Romería in honor of Hermano Pedro – Llano del Moro – El Rosario
• 09/07/2017 – Romería San Benito de Abad – La Laguna
• 16/07/2017 – Embarcación de La Virgen del Carmen – Las Galletas – Arona

August

• 06/08/2017 – Romería in honor of Virgen de La Esperanza – El Rosario
• 15/08/2017 – Peregrinación to the Basílica de Ntra. Sra. De Candelaria
• 16/08/2017 – Romería in honor of San Roque – Garachico
• 20/08/2017 – Romería Barquera in honor of San Casiano – Las Galletas – Arona
• 24/08/2017 – Corazones de Tejina – Tejina
• 26/08/2017 – Romería in honor of San Agustín y posterior Baile de Magos – Arafo

September

• 07/08/2017 - Romería de la Bajada de la Virgen del Socorro in Güímar
• Romería Benijos – LA OROTAVA
• Romeria de San José - SAN JUAN DE LA RAMBLA

October

• 15/10/2017 Romería de Adeje

Facebook group, Ropa de Magos - Traje típico Canario have a comprehensive CALENDARIO de ROMERÍAS y BAILES de MAGOS 2017 en Tenerife, which also includes the various Bailes de Magos. These dances are often strictly typical costume only.

Guía de Romerías 2017

Tenerife Fiestas in May 2017

Flag of the Canary Islands

The month of May in Tenerife, as in Britain, starts and ends with a pair of public holidays.

In Spain, including Tenerife and the Canary Islands, Monday, 1st May 2017, is Fiesta del Trabajo (Workers’ Day). At the end of the month, on Tuesday, 30th May 2017, the archipelago celebrates Día de Canarias (Canaries Day), which is the anniversary of the first session of the Canary Islands' Parliament after the return of democracy in Spain.

May 3rd, Día de la Cruz (Festival of the Crosses) is a municipal public holiday in Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife - in the case of the last for both the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross and Commemoration of the Founding of the City. On May 3rd, 1494, there was a ceremony on the beach of the city, where Alonso Fernández de Lugo, the military governor, erected a wooden cross to officially found the city.



In the capital, as well as in Güímar and other towns, people decorate crosses with flowers and fruits, then place them on the ramblas of the city for everyone's enjoyment. In addition, each district of Santa Cruz (which also celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the city) makes or decorates its own crosses.

The municipality of Los Realejos celebrates the Day of the Cross with a spectacular display of fireworks, one of the most outstanding in Europe and declared of National Tourist Interest. The two main streets of the town, the streets of El Medio and Del Sol, rival for more than three hours to offer the best pyrotechnic show.

Los Realejos fireworks 2015 May

May 5th marks the anniversary, in Garachico, of the eruption which had destroyed the town's port in 1706.

In Spain, Día de la Madre (Mother's Day) has been celebrated on the first Sunday in May, since 1965 (previously, it had been celebrated on 8th December, the day of the Immaculate Conception). This year, Mother's Day in Spain falls on Sunday, 7th May 2017.

Photo: er Guiri Some rights reserved