Countdown to Carnival: Ritmo y Armonía Comparsa - Bahía Bahitiare

The comparsas give you the spirit of carnival and while the galas, the opening parade and the main parade are all well known events, one you may have missed out on is the Ritmo y Armonía (Rhythm and Harmony) Comparsas Contest that takes place on the Saturday night of carnival that next year will take place on Saturday, 2 March 2019.

Here is just one of the comparsas from carnival earlier this year.

Most Santa Cruz carnival events are televised via RTVE or RTVC, locally, nationally and internationally or recordings may be found on the CarnavalTVC Youtube channel.

All events are liable to change beyond our control.

Bahía Bahitiare | Ritmo y Armonía | SC de Tenerife 2018

Almond Flower Route

In late January / February each year the Ruta de Almendros en Flor (Almond Flower Route) walk takes place as spring begins to blossom in Santiago del Teide.

Ruta Almendros en Flor, Tenerife

Romería of San Antonio Abad in Arona

The municipality of Arona reopens, once again, the calendar of romerías with the festivities in honor of San Antonio Abad, which will congregate thousands of people in the town on Sunday 13 January, in a celebration in which animals have a special role.

ROMERÍA ARONA TENERIFE 2018

Los Cristianos Carnival 2019

Los Cristianos Carnival Poster 2019

Yesterday, the poster for Los Cristianos (Arona) Carnival was announced and we now know that the theme for this carnival is to be "The Jungle". The dates of Los Cristianos Carnival 2019 - from 21 March to 1 April - have been known for some time - indeed we updated them on the list of Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2019 and created the Facebook Event for Los Cristianos Carnival 2019 back in Nov 2018 - but yesterday's announcement (via) did also include further dates and information on the following main events:

• Saturday 23 March 2019 - Opening Parade (Cabalgata anunciadora) in Playa de Las Américas 
• Thursday 28 March 2019 - Election of the Carnaval Queen (Gala de Elección de la Reina) 
• Friday 29 March 2019 - Drag Queen Gala (Gala Drag) 
• Saturday 30 March 2019 - Daytime Carnival (Carnaval de día)
• Sunday 31 March 2019 - Carnival Main Parade in Los Cristianos (Coso Apoteósico)
• Monday 1 April 2019 - Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) 

La Jungla del Carnaval de Los Cristianos 2019 ya cuenta con cartel anunciador

Countdown to Carnival: Candidate for Carnival Queen in 2018, Carolina

Carolina Viera Gómez | Gala de elección de la Reina | SC de Tenerife 2018

As we count down to carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019, let's take a last look at one of the candidates for carnival queen in 2018 and her magnificent costume.

The gala to elect the Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2019 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 27 February 2019. The inauguration takes place on 1 February 2019 and carnival takes to the streets on 1 March 2019.

All dates are liable to change beyond our control. 

To ensure you see posts as we count down to Tenerife Carnival 2019, subscribe to our news feed, Subscribe to Secret Tenerife by Email or like and follow our facebook page.

Guide to Romerías in Tenerife 2019

Romería de Las Mercedes. Image Jose Mesa Some rights reserved

The year of 2019 begins with a program loaded with Romerías - pilgrimages and parties - in all municipalities and neighborhoods of Tenerife. And as in previous years, the folk from La Casa de Los Balcones have set to work to prepare the 2019 pilgrimage guide for Tenerife. In this article they have provided a complete list with dates already confirmed and others to be confirmed. We will try to make every effort to keep this list updated.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF ROMERÍAS

Romerías have always been linked to the sanctity of the Catholic religion; simple pilgrimages on foot, on cattle, or in carts, as people went from their homes, to the different towns of the islands to participate in the festivities there. Traveling difficult roads, the intention of the pilgrims was to fulfill a promise, a religious precept, go to the hermitage, parish or church to venerate the Saint or Virgin of the town. This did not prevent them from taking advantage of the occasion to have fun, socialize and even find a partner. When the walk could be done as a group, to the sound of timples, guitars and chácaras, it provided a very cheerful highlight in a society that lived hard work all year.

ROMERÍAS TODAY

Currently, Romerías are huge street parties that unite the pagan and the religious with jubilation, tradition, history, culture and identity. Branded by some, with disapproval, as something that has become just a 'show', the truth is that these pilgrimages are the ideal opportunity to feel and live Canary Islands' culture at its best.

Highlights of these festivities are the large influx of people of all ages; the huge cows or oxen that pull beautiful wooden carts; the folk songs and dances to the rhythm of popular parrandas. Emulating all the traditions of the countryside, the party-goers drink local wines accompanied by goat meat or beef. (Note the accurate description that the wine is accompanied by food, not the other way round!) Also livestock fairs or native craft markets often accompany these pilgrimages, where the most colorful aspects are, without doubt, the typical costumes or trajes de magos that each pilgrim wears on this special day. Some of these events include demonstrations of native sports such as arrastre de ganado (cattle dragging), juego del palo (Canarian stick fighting) or salto de pastor (literally, the shepherd's jump), or demonstrations of wheat threshing and milking, among others.

So we can say that the Romerías are an attempt to keep alive the religious, agricultural and livestock traditions of the municipalities, in which each stands out above the others for its very particular smells, tastes, sounds and typical costumes.

THE MOST IMPORTANT AND TRADITIONAL ROMERÍAS IN TENERIFE

The most important pilgrimages of Tenerife are those of San Isidro and Santa María de La Cabeza in La Orotava, San Benito Abad in La Laguna and San Marcos in Tegueste, and that of the Virgin of Candelaria, Patroness of the Canary Islands, without underestimating the rest, since they all enrich the cultural heritage.

CALENDAR OF ROMERÍAS IN TENERIFE

The Romería season begins in the month of January, with the celebration of San Antonio Abad in the municipalities of Arona, Los Realejos, Buenavista del Norte, La Orotava, Chío and Güímar. The Romería del Socorro in honor of the Virgen del Socorro, in the municipality of Güímar, is considered the oldest of the islands.

JANUARY

• 13/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San Antonio Abad - Tigaiga - Los Realejos
• 13/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor of San Antonio Abad - Arona 
• 13/01/2019 - San Antonio Abad (livestock fair-romería) - La Matanza
• 20/01/2019 - Pilgrimage of San Sebastián - Adeje
• 20/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Antonio Abad - Chío 
• 27/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot and Our Lady of the Virgin of Hope - La Florida - La Orotava
• 27/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San Antonio Abad - Buenavista del Norte
• 27/01/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Antonio Abad - Güímar

FEBRUARY

MARCH

• 16/03/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San José - Barranco Hondo (Candelaria)

APRIL

• 28/04/2019- Pilgrimage of San Marcos Evangelista - Tegueste.

MAY

• 01/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Paseo Romero - Tíncer, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 01/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage for the Fiesta de La Cruz - Barrio del Calvario, El Sauzal
• 01/05/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San Alejo - San Alejo, El Tanque
• [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of the Sabina Alta - Fasnia
• 12/05/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Isidro - El Pico - Tejina, La Laguna
• 12/05/2019 - Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Fatima - Valle San Lorenzo, Arona
• 12/05/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Isidro - San Isidro, Granadilla de Abona
• 12/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Romería de San Matías - Taco - La Laguna
• 12/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Romería San Isidro - Arguayo - Santiago del Teide
• 13/05/2019 - Pilgrimage of the Virgen el Buen Viaje - Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 15/05/2019 - Romería Chica - Los Realejos
• 16/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage In Honor of San Isidro and Santa María de La Cabeza - Sabina Alta, Fasnia
• 17/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Isidro - Guía de Isora
• 17/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor of San Isidro Labrador - Ruigómez, El Tanque
• 17/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Fatima - Valle San Lorenzo, Arona
• 17/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor of San Isidro Labrador - El Chorrillo, El Rosario
• 17/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro Labrador - Valle de Guerra, La Laguna
• 19/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro and Santa María de la Cabeza - Valle de Guerra.
• 19/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro Labrador - El Chorrillo, El Rosario.
• 19/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Juan - Igueste, Candelaria
• 25/05/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro Labrador - La Corujera, Santa Úrsula
• 26/05/2019 - Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador - Los Realejos
• 26/05/2015 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza - Las Mercedes, La Laguna
• Close to 30 [still to be confirmed] - Paseo Romero - Puerto de La Cruz

JUNE

• 02/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Antonio de Padua - Granadilla de Abona
• 02/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Isidro - Guamasa
• 08/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Romería Chica - La Orotava
• 09/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Isidro - La Orotava
• 09/06/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador - Barrio de La Mancha (Icod de Los Vinos)
• 07/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of Tacoronte 
• 23/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Paseo Romero de San Juanito - Punta del Hidalgo
• 24/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Isidro - Las Carboneras
• 30/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of Ntra. Sra. Del Perpetuo Socorro - Barrio de San Antonio - La Matanza
• 30/06/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of Saint Brother Pedro of San José de Betancur - Llano del Moro - El Rosario

JULY

• 05/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor to La Santa Cruz del Llano del Moro - Llano del Moro, El Rosario
• 07/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of La Cruz and San Pedro - Las Aguas, San Juan de La Rambla
• 10/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Embarkation of the Virgen del Carmen - Puerto de la Cruz
• 14/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Benito de Abad - La Laguna
• 15/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Paseo Romero with decorated floats (agricultural tractors) - Barrio de Ravelo - El Sauzal
• 21/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of Santa Ana and San Joaquín- El Ortigal
• 28/07/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Romería de Las Nieves, Finca España - La Laguna

AUGUST

• 04/08/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San José Obrero and Santa Teresa de Jesús - Barrio de Aguamansa - La Orotava [pending confirmation]
• 04/08/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor of the Virgin of Our Lady of La Esperanza - El Rosario
• 12/08/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Bajada de las Hayas - La Guancha
• 14/08/2019 - Pilgrimage of the Candelaria
• 15/08/2019 - Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria
• 16/08/2019 - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Roque - Garachico
• 17/08/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Luis Rey - El Charco del Pino, Granadilla de Abona
• 17/08/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage of San Roque - Chiguergue (Guía de Isora)
• 18/08/2019 - Pilgrimage Barquera in honor of San Casiano - Las Galletas - Arona
• 24/08/2018 [still to be confirmed] - Corazones de Tejina (Hearts of Tejina) - Tejina
• 24/08/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San Agustín and later Baile de Magos - Arafo
• 25/08/2019 - Pilgrimage in honor of San Roque and San Agustín - Vilaflor

SEPTEMBER

• 01/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage Barquera in honor of San Blas - Los Abrigos, Granadilla de Abona
• 01/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor to San Isidro - La Victoria de Acentejo
• 07/09/2019 - Bajada de la Virgen del Socorro - Güímar
• 08/09/2019 - Ascent of the Virgen del Socorro - Güimar
• 08/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Benijos, La Orotava
• 14/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San José - Las Medianías - San José, San Juan de La Rambla
• 04/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Romería de los Roques from the town of Fasnia to Los Roques 
• 15/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Romería Barquera in Honor of Our Lady of Las Mercedes - El Médano, Granadilla de Abona.
• 21/09/2019 or 28/09/2019 [pending confirmation] - Celebration in Honor of Our Lady of Carmen - Las Eras 
• 22/09/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in honor of San Miguel de Abona - San Miguel de Abona

OCTOBER

• 19/10/2019 [still to be confirmed] - Pilgrimage in Honor of Saint Ursula - Adeje

Learn how to dress in the typical costume of La Orotava

Tenerife Rally Calendar 2019

Tenerife Rally Calendar 2019

Motor2000 has published a provisional list of fixtures for the 2019 Rally season in Tenerife, which starts on 16 February with the Palo Blanco Hillclimb, taking place instead of the El Tanque Hillclimb that hasn't had sufficient participation in recent years.

There were many significant changes to the provisional schedule published by Motor2000 last year, so we'll make every attempt to update with confirmation of these fixtures, as soon as the Tenerife Rally Federation release the official schedule for this year.

HILLCLIMBS

16 February: Palo Blanco
30 March: Los Loros
27 April: Arico
08 June: Guía de Isora
06 July: Güímar
21 September: Arona-La Escalona
05 October: Tamaimo
02 November: Icod-La Guancha

RALLYS

23 March: Orvecame Norte
30 March: Rallysprint Atogo
11 May: Adeje
22 June: Granadilla
27 July: La Laguna
16 October: Tierras del Teide
19 October: Isla Tenerife
07 December: Rallysprint Santiago del Tiede

Three Kings Procession in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Much awaited on the night of 5 January are the processions of Los Reyes (The Three Kings). Here is the coverage of last year's visit by Their Majesties to Santa Cruz.

Cabalgata de Reyes Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2018

Visit of The Three Kings to Los Cristianos

A very special event to look forward to with the visit of Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) to Los Cristianos on Saturday 5 January 2019.

Events begin at 18:00 with the arrival of Their Majesties - by helicopter - to the exterior of the Cultural Centre in Los Cristianos. From 18:10 to 19:00 there will be a pre-procession show, where the Three Kings will be received by the local authorities and be presented with the magic keys to all of the houses of the children of the district. From 19:30 to 21:00 their Majesties, accompanied by their Royal Entourage, will make their procession around the town, then from 21:00 to 22:00 Their Majesties will collect the children's letters at the Casa del Mar on the esplanade by the port of Los Chrisianos.

Gran Cabalgata de Reyes Magos 2019 (Download programme PDF)

Countdown to Carnival: Ritmo y Armonía Comparsa - Danzarines Canarios

The comparsas give you the spirit of carnival and while the galas, the opening parade and the main parade are all well known events, one you may have missed out on is the Ritmo y Armonía (Rhythm and Harmony) Comparsas Contest that takes place on the Saturday night of carnival that next year will take place on Saturday, 2 March 2019.

Here is just one of the comparsas from carnival earlier this year.

Most Santa Cruz carnival events are televised via RTVE or RTVC, locally, nationally and internationally or recordings may be found on the CarnavalTVC Youtube channel.

All events are liable to change beyond our control.

Danzarines Canarios | Ritmo y Armonía | SC de Tenerife 2018