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

Traditional Fiestas in La Orotava

Corpus Christi Sand Carpet in La Orotava

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

Procesión del Corpus Christi de La Orotava

Fiestas Orotava

Traditional Fiestas in La Matanza de Acentejo

San Salvador, La Matanza de Acentejo

The name La Matanza de Acentejo, near the north coast of Tenerife, means "the Slaughter of Acentejo" and refers to the First Battle of Acentejo, in 1494, lost by the Spanish.

Traditional fiestas celebrated in this district include: 

San Antonio Abad: 17th January
San Blas: 1st April in Chamaina
La Cruz: 3rd May
“Los Cuarteles”: the week after Corpus.
Nuestra Señora del Socorro: last Sunday of July in San Antonio
Fiestas Patronales en honor de El Salvador y Nuestra Señora del Rosario: 6th August
La Virgen del Carmen: last Sunday of August in El  Caletón
Nuestra Señora de Guía: 8th September

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

Tenerife Fiestas in April 2017

Easter Week in Los Realejos - Franciscan Brotherhood of the Nazarene

The biggest events in April 2017 are those relating to Easter. 

Celebrations begin on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), 9th April 2017, when there will be processions in many towns and villages and you can often observe a little flurry of pruning of palm trees and Spring cleaning in the run up. These parades have been described as "happy and less crowded celebrations" than those later on in the week.

Thursday, 13th April 2017 (Jueves Santo/Maundy Thursday) and Friday, 14th April 2017 (Viernes Santo/Good Friday) are public holidays this month, while it must be remembered that Easter Monday is not a holiday in Spain and the Canary Islands.

The main events that may be of interest take place on Viernes Santo (Good Friday) with the various processions of Semana Santa de La Laguna and the Representación de la Pasión (Passion Play) or Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross) in Adeje.

Representación de la Pasión Adeje 2016

Also very much worth seeing are the floral displays of the Pascua Florida, the unique and increasingly famous Easter floral festival, in the oldest central part of Guía de Isora town between Maundy Thursday, 13th April, and Easter Sunday, 16th April.

There are more details on these events in the Tenerife’s Easter Programmes from last year and our feature that includes the Easter Week Dates until half way through the century!

On Monday, 24th April 2017, Vilaflor celebrates the Festivity of Hermano Pedro (Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur) who was born in the town in 1626, became a missionary in Guatemala and was canonised as the "first Canarian and Guatemalan saint" in 2002.

Tuesday, 25th April 2017 the towns of Icod de los Vinos and Tegueste celebrate the Festivity of San Marcos Evangelista (St. Mark the Evangelist). (These last two dates are Municipal Public Holidays in the the districts mentioned.)

On Sunday, 30th April 2017, Tegueste celebrates its Romería de San Marcos, part of the XLIX Fiestas y Romería de San Marcos 2017 in honour of town patron, San Marcos Evangelista. This traditional fiesta opens the romeria season that carries of through the spring and summer and draws one of the biggest crowds in the Canary Islands.  This year a total of 24 carts will accompany the four ships, drawn by oxen, that represent the streets of Pedro Alvarez, Tegueste, San Luis and El Socorro. Also taking place is the Floral Dance, the symbol of the traditions of the town. There will be herds of animals, folk groups, thousands of people in traditional dress, and lots of food and flowing wine.

Image: By Franciscana Cofradía del Nazareno [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Traditional Fiestas in La Guancha

Charco de Viento on the coast of La Guancha, Tenerfe

The municipality of La Guancha extends from the slopes of Mount Teide to the sea. As in other localities in the north of Tenerife, the Fiesta de San Andrés, on 30th November, with the opening of the bodegas, is an important date in the festival calendar.

Fiestas celebrated in the district include:

18th January - Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
23rd April - San Jorge in El Farrobo
Last week of May - Virgen del Coromoto in Guancha de Abajo
23rd June - Noche de San Juan in the Barranco de la Asomada
Third Sunday in June - Corpus Christi
Last Sunday in June - San Antonio de Padua in El Pinalete
Second - third week of July - Virgen del Carmen in Santo Domingo
Second Saturday in August - Bajada de Las Hayas
17th August - Fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza
Forth Sunday in August - Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Second half of August - Fiestas Patronales
Second half of October - San Lucas in Las Cucharas
22th - 24th of October - Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
Third week of October - Nuestra Señora del Rosario in the centre of the municipality
Third Sunday in November - Santa Catalina
29th - 30th November - Fiestas de San Andrés

Photo: By Al3x dybala21 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Tenerife Carnival 2017 Reaches Its Climax In Los Cristianos

This weekend sees the climax of Los Cristianos' Carnival with the Drag Queen Gala this evening, Friday, 24th March 2017; the Daytime Carnival events tomorrow, Saturday, 25th March 2017 and the Carnaval Main Parade, starting from the Arona Gran Hotel in Los Cristianos, from around 4pm on Sunday, 26th March 2017.

On Monday, 27th March 2017, carnival for this year, in Los Cristianos and on the island as a whole, comes to an end with the Burial of the Sardine from 9pm.

Los Cristianos Carnival Program 2017

Carnival Grand Opening Parade in Los Cristianos

Los Gigantes Carnival 2017 bids farewell to their sardine tonight, Friday, 17th March, while the Los Cristianos Carnival Program 2017 kicks off with the presentation of the candidates for the carnival queens this evening. The Grand Opening Parade in Los Cristianos - here's a video from last year's event - takes place from 7pm tomorrow, Saturday, 18th March.

Carnaval 2016 Cabalgata Arona Las Americas Los Cristianos