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– 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 Februaryfor 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.)
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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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
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.
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."
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.
- 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
La Orotava stretches from the north coast to the mountainous interior, and includes the summit of the Teide volcano. Here are the biggest events in the district: 17th January - Fiestas and Romería de San Antonio Abad in La Florida February/March - Carnival March/April - Holy Week June - Corpus Christi - Día de las Alfombras (Day of the Carpets) June - Romería de San Isidro 29th - 30th November - San Andrés
