Second Phase of the Junior Murga Contest

Members of a Junior Murga Group at the Coso Infantil 2020 (Children's Carnival Parade)

The Second Phase of the Junior Murga Contest, should have taken place today, Friday 22 January 2021, but of course, because of the COVID pandemic, carnival will not be taking place. Instead, we bring you coverage of this event from last year. This is one in a series of posts that aim to keep the spirit of carnival alive. Or keep the flame burning, so the torch can be passed to the next carnival, whenever we can get back to gathering normally.



Segunda Fase de Murgas Infantiles Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2020

First Phase of the Junior Murga Contest

Members of a Junior Murga Group at the Coso Infantil 2020 (Children's Carnival Parade)

The First Phase of the Junior Murga Contest, should have taken place today, Thursday 21 January 2021, but of course, because of the COVID pandemic, carnival will not be taking place. Instead, we bring you coverage of this event from last year. This is one in a series of posts that aim to keep the spirit of carnival alive. Or keep the flame burning, so the torch can be passed to the next carnival, whenever we can get back to gathering normally.

Primera Fase de Murgas Infantiles Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2020

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2020

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2020, Sara Cruz Teja

With the announcement that the one carnival gala in 2021 will choose Guardians of the Sceptre until Carnival 2022, from among carnival queens of the last 20 years of the Santa Cruz Carnival, we took that as a perfect excuse to take another look at them.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2020 was Sara Cruz Teja, with a costume entitled "Sentir" (Feel), designed by Sedomir Rodríguez de la Sierra and sponsored by hypermarket Centro Comercial Alcampo La Laguna.

There will be no Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2021, although the City Council is working with the Carnival groups in the design of some activities that can maintain the spirit of the festivities during the weeks in which it should have been celebrated. 



Sara Cruz Teja | Gala Reina del Carnaval | S/C Tenerife 2020

Online Mass from La Caleta for San Sebastián

Figure of San Sebastián being taken to Enramada Beach. Photo: Adeje Town Hall

It was inevitable that this event would also become a casualty of the pandemic and Adeje announced that celebrations of San Sebastián were reduced to the religious functions. 

The traditional celebration of events in honor of San Sebastián, co-patron of Adeje, will be reduced this year to religious functions in the Church of San Sebastián de La Caleta throughout this week, from January 18 to 22. This has been agreed by the City Council and the parish in application of all health security regulations and restrictions for the pandemic.

There will be no festive events, no blessing or presence of animals in Playa de la Enramada. The celebrations will be limited to a series of masses, with limited capacity, organized by the parish, of which one of them - the mass at 12:00 midday on Wednesday 20 January 2021 - will be offered live by streaming through the social networks of the church itself and Adeje Council's Facebook Page and YouTube channel. The church is considering allowing a telematic pilgrimage, placing an image of the saint live on social networks so that all the faithful can visit him through the internet.

Festividad de San Sebastián 2021

In addition to the main mass, another seven will be held throughout the week and with the same capacity limitation, 80 people, in each of them. This limitation complies with the rules for religious acts that allow the occupation of one third of the maximum capacity of the premises. Monday to Friday there will be a celebration at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday a second at 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, two more, at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (main).

Both the council and the parish remind citizens of the limitations of mobility, capacity and gatherings and it is stressed that the gathering or blessing of animals will not be held as is traditional, so it is requested that they refrain from bring pets, horses, cattle, etc.

Celebración del día de San Sebastián 2020

Fiestas of San Sebastián in other times

San Sebastián, co-patron of the municipality of Adeje together with the Virgen de la Encarnación and Santa Úrsula, celebrates its feast on January 20. In recent years it has become one of the celebrations that gathers the most people in the whole South of Tenerife, demonstrated by the large influx of people related the agriculture and livestock of the region and the island who gather at the mythical site of Playa de la Enramada.

Horse riders in the sea at Enramada Beach in other times. Photo: Adeje Town Hall

The entire town of Adeje, as well as people from neighbouring municipalities, from the north of the island and even from neighbouring island, La Gomera participate in the San Sebastián festivities. From the elders, who don't miss the opportunity to talk about the old times, to the smallest children, all have made this festival an obligatory meeting point.

The big day of San Sebastián begins early in the morning, with the holy mass, after which the venerated image leaves the temple towards the sea, preceded by a retinue of horsemen, who year after year, surprise the curious congregated in the area, taking their animals into the sea, a show that combines devotion to Saint Sebastian and love for animals.

In addition to this unique equestrian encounter, all those present, but especially the little ones, enjoy the procession accompanied by oxen, cows, goats, sheep, camels and sheepdogs. This concludes in the Plaza de San Sebastián, where the parish priest proceeds to bless the animals.

The folk music and dances of the region (folias, isas, seguiridillas, tajarastes), stalls, Canarian artisan products, food and the wines of the islands and the municipality have their leading role to supply the thousands of congregants who meet in the surroundings of the old hermitage that bears the name of the patron saint and miracle worker.

The video below - a five minute summary of the Fiestas of San Sebastián in 2020 - shows the wonderful, fun, spontaneous 'chaos' that these festivities always seem to be. It amuses me that the person who made the video just stumbles upon the event, having seen the crowds from their hotel and decided to see what it was. Onlookers seem to have no idea what's going on either (they would if they read Secret Tenerife!), but that doesn't stop them from enjoying it. It's something else to look forward to, when the world turns again.

FIESTA of SAN SEBASTIAN, La Caleta, Adeje, Tenerife

History of the Fiestas of San Sebastián 

This is a very old fiesta. It began in the early years of the 16th century in a place of worship prior to the Conquest of the Canary Islands and, over the years, it has been adapting to new customs. Over the years, farmers and ranchers in Adeje and throughout the island have increased their devotion to this patron saint, but in a very special way because of the statue of San Sebastián that was in the old hermitage. Many miracles are attributed to this image. Still today, many are the people who resort to San Sebastián de Adeje with the hope of a quick cure of their ailments or to request a favor or fulfil the promise.

This festivity encourages a meeting in which adults and young people revive a tradition that goes beyond the religious, contributing to the strengthening of the spirit of coexistence and harmony among the inhabitants of the region. [That part will be sorely missed.]

Playa de la Enramada Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019, Priscila Medina Quintero

With the announcement that the one carnival gala in 2021 will choose Guardians of the Sceptre until Carnival 2022, from among carnival queens of the last 20 years of the Santa Cruz Carnival, we took that as a perfect excuse to take another look at them.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2019 was Priscila Medina Quintero, with a costume entitled "La Nuit" (The Night), designed by Sedomir Rodríguez de la Sierra and representing Autoinsular Citroën.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2018

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2018, Carmen Laura Lourido Pérez

With the announcement that the one carnival gala in 2021 will choose Guardians of the Sceptre until Carnival 2022, from among carnival queens of the last 20 years of the Santa Cruz Carnival, we took that as a perfect excuse to take another look at them.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2018 was Carmen Laura Lourido Pérez, with a costume entitled "Renacida" (Reborn), designed by Jorge González Santana and representing FuenteAlta (bottled water).

COVID: Tenerife regains the freedom to enter and leave the island as restrictions ease

Sailing Ship in Tenerife. Photo: Piotr Konieczny, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Government of the Canary Islands reduces the island's level of risk on Monday, which delays the start of curfew until 11:00 p.m., will resume visits to hospitals and care homes and will allow the interior of restaurants to be reopened

Tenerife regains the freedom to enter and leave the island from Monday. After a month at the highest alert level, red, the Government of the Canary Islands has decided to lower the alert level of the island given the "favorable" evolution of its indicators in the last two weeks. 

Tenerife residents will not only be able to travel again without justification, but they will also be able to enjoy one more hour of freedom - the curfew will begin at 23:00 hours - they will be able to sit in the interior areas of the restaurants, visit their relatives - with limitations - in hospitals and care homes and exercise again in gyms and sports centres on the island.

The new measures (Level 2) come into force in Tenerife from 00:00 on Sunday night and are slightly less restrictive than those of level 3, since social encounters will still be limited to four people. However, the caveat at this level of risk is that the groups may once again be made up of non-cohabitants both in private and public spaces, and not only on terraces.

At this new level, in addition to being able to reopen the interior of bars and restaurants – with a maximum of four diners per table – gyms, casinos and gambling establishments that were completely closed will also be able to reopen. Sports activities, however, the restriction of groups of a maximum four people, including the monitor, will remain when it is not possible to maintain safety distances of two meters, both indoors and outdoors.

Visits to hospitals and care homes will be re-enabled after a full month of isolation from patients and users. However, as the risk remains at a medium level, they should be made with caution and security. For this reason, visits will be limited and supervised at all times by the centre staff. In addition, the use of FFP2-type masks and face shields is recommended by personnel who have direct care with patients, as well as reinforcing ventilation.

Finally, the capacity of land public transport – that is, buses and trams – will remain limited as it is at the moment, allowing a maximum of 50% of its capacity.

Tenerife recupera la libertad para entrar y salir de la isla

[Whilst this means that those resident in Tenerife will be able to enter and leave again, Spain is still restricting the arrival of tourists from outside the country and the UK still isn't letting people out for leisure, so this should NOT be taken as a reason to book a holiday.]

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2017

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2017, Judit López García

With the announcement that the one carnival gala in 2021 will choose Guardians of the Sceptre until Carnival 2022, from among carnival queens of the last 20 years of the Santa Cruz Carnival, we took that as a perfect excuse to take another look at them.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2017 was Judit López García, in a costume entitled "Madame Soleil" (Madam Sun), designed by Jorge González Santana and sponsored by bottled water company, Fuentealta.

Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016, Cecilia Navarro Arteaga

With the announcement that the one carnival gala in 2021 will choose Guardians of the Sceptre until Carnival 2022, from among carnival queens of the last 20 years of the Santa Cruz Carnival, we took that as a perfect excuse to take another look at them.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2016 was Cecilia Navarro Arteaga in a costume entitled, "Arena blanca del desierto" (White Desert Sand), designed by Daniel Pages and representing McDonald´s and La Opinión de Tenerife.

Almond Blossom Routes 2021

Great news is that the Rutas de Almendros en Flor (Almond Blossom Walks) are planned to take place between 23 January and 14 February, part of the cultural program of the Santiago del Teide Council, who say that they have the official poster and the dates for the celebration of a new edition of the Almond Blossom 2021 in Santiago del Teide and that soon they will upload in detail all the scheduled programming, as long as the health and safety guidelines allow us to carry them out. 

EDIT 21 Jan: The Mayor presents the Campaign of the Almond Blossom 2021

Mayor of Santiago del Teide, Emilio Navarro, this morning presented, Almond Blossom of Santiago del Teide 2021, a program that will include a large number of routes, events, contests, gastronomic route ..., which will run from January 23 to February 21.

Saturday, January 23, two long routes, two short routes and a short route with pets.

On Sunday, January 24, at 12:00 hours, a gastronomic workshop entitled "Cooking Among Almonds" will be broadcast through the Council's social networks.

On Saturday, January 30, two circular almond blossom routes operate for all the family. 

On Saturday, February 6, two routes will be developed "Without Barriers", for people with reduced mobility and for the deaf.

On Sunday, February 7, at 5:00 p.m., there will be a recital among almond trees by Satomi Morimoto and Besay Pérez that will be broadcast through the Council's social networks.

On Sunday February 14, coinciding with the celebration of Valentine's Day, two routes are organized under the title "Lovers Route".

Apart from these walks, a gastro route has also been organized throughout the municipality in which 25 restaurants and shops will participate, the "Almendro en Flor" photography contest and a contest called "Líricas del Almendro" aimed at the schoolchildren of the municipality. In addition, during all Sundays and holidays of the campaign there will be guides distributed along the route to respond to questions and different tracks of QR trails will be uploaded to social networks for those who want to make the walk independently.

Almond Blossom of Santiago del Teide 2021 (click image to enlarge)

TAXI SERVICE GASTRO ROUTE "ALMENDRO EN FLOR"

Participants in the "Almendros en Flor" Gastro Route will be able to use a taxi service, with an established schedule from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Anyone who wishes to obtain more information can obtain it through the Culture area of ​​the City Council, at 922-86-31-27, ext. 300.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

- It is essential to have a reservation to participate. There are a limited number of places for each route.

- The price of each route is € 5 / person

- For all routes you generally need sports clothing and shoes (preferably mountain boots), a coat, a raincoat, a picnic and water. The use of hiking poles is recommended due to the uneven terrain.

- Bad weather will not be an impediment to carrying out the activity, although the organization reserves the right to suspend it or modify its route if it deems it appropriate, especially if it considers that the physical integrity of the participants may be harmed.

- The image rights derived from the routes will be exclusive to the organization of the activity that reserves their use, so any use of them by third parties must be approved by the organization.

- You can get more information by calling 922 86 31 27 extension 234. Department of Culture of the Santiago del Teide Council.

This year, of course, you'll need a mask and to socially distance from other participants.

El Cardon are offering short walks, long walks and walks where pets can join in.

Additionally, the Ecomuseo de El Tanque lists these walks each Saturday and Sunday.