Life size nativity in La Orotava, Tenerife

Every year in front of the town hall in La Orotava, a magnificent life-size nativity is erected.

Belen a tamaño Natural en La Orotava, Tenerife

Nativity displays in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

One of the things you must do in the run up to Christmas in Tenerife, is to seek out some of the Belén (Nativity) displays. Here is one from Santa Cruz last year.

Belén de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2017 & 2018

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

Rocío Pérez Dorta | 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.

Something for the weekend: Rally Sprint Santiago del Teide

Santiago del Teide

New on the rally calendar this year, taking place on Saturday 8 December 2018 is the Rally Sprint Santiago del Teide. The Rally Sprint-Race of Champions is to be a meeting of Canarian and national rally and hillclimb champions and is being run on a section of the road in Arguayo that has already served in previous rallies.

El Rallye Sprint Santiago del Teide, una de las novedades

Tenerife Fiestas in December 2018

The North Pole depicted in Tenerife

December begins with two National public holidays: on Thu 6 December for Día de la Constitución Española (Constitution Day) and Sat 8 December for Inmaculada Concepción (The Immaculate Conception). Many are bound to take the day off on Fri 7 too and take what's known as un puente (translates to bridge) or short break.

Naturally, most of December's events are to do with Christmas.

It's customary to put up Christmas decorations on the weekend closest to 8 December, but the holiday period always kicks off proper with El Gordo (The Fat One), the Spanish Christmas Lottery, which is drawn on 22 December each year, with kids singing out the numbers drawn during a five-hour televised spectacular that is eagerly awaited. 

Christmas Day, Tue 25 December will be a Public holiday. For Canarians, this is often recovery day after a big family gathering on Christmas Eve that involved a whole barbequed goat kid and lots of turrón and other traditional Christmas sweets.

Boxing Day isn't a tradition nor holiday in Spain or the Canaries.

There are no municipal public holidays in December.

On 28 December, beware of El Día de Los Santos Inocentes (Day of the Innocent Saints), the Spanish equivalent of April Fool's Day. The press will publish even more fake news than usual. One of our favourites was Viking Ship Discovered on Las Teresitas.

And that, of course, brings us to the end of the year and New Year's Eve.

Something for the weekend: Arico Hillclimb

And the final hillclimb of the year is the Arico Hillclimb - an elevation change of 390 meters over a 7800 meter track length - taking place on Saturday 1 December 2018.

Subida Arico 2017

Countdown to Carnival: Ritmo y Armonía Comparsa - Los Valleiros

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.

Los Valleiros | Ritmo y Armonía | SC de Tenerife 2018

Christmas in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with 2.2 million LED bulbs

Towns and cities of Tenerife do Christmas lights in a spectacular fashion, as this coverage of the Christmas lights switch on in Santa Cruz last year amply demonstrates.

Santa Cruz da la bienvenida a la Navidad con el encendido de 2,2 millones de bombillas LED

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

Rocío Díaz Medina | 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.

Something for the weekend: Isle of Tenerife Rally

The island's biggest event of the year on the rally calendar is the Isle of Tenerife Rally, which takes place this weekend on Saturday 17 November. Albeit in Spanish, should you wish to watch the sport, or avoid the closed roads, you can download timetables & routes at the following page: Rallye Isla Tenerife 2018, Rutómetro, Tramos y Programa Horario.

Rally Isla Tenerife 2017