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Witches transform into donkeys in Tenerife

Las Burras de Güímar Photo: By Mataparda

It’s Tenerife, it’s carnival and so the fun continues with yet more curious festivals that would make a night at your local BDSM fetish club seem a little dull. In Güímar, for instance, witches will once more turn into donkeys at their carnival closing festivities known as Las Burras de Güímar (The Donkeys of Güímar). 

Legend has it that during a funeral, strange donkeys suddenly began to appear and accompany the funeral procession. Upon arrival in the town square, the local people thought they weren't really donkeys, because there was something very "fishy" about them. Local farmers then came up with the [quite possibly stupid] idea of poking them with a knife and, when pierced, the alleged donkeys become terrible and disgusting witches who begin to invoke Satan. The witches start dancing until the bishop arrives and holds an exorcism, calling upon the Archangel Michael for help, who comes down from heaven to fight with the Devil.

When San Miguel (that's the Archangel Michael or Saint Michael, not the beer) manages to kill the Devil after a gruelling fight, the Bishop also mandates that the donkeys be burned at the stake to restore tranquillity to the town.

This piece of street theatre dates all the way back to 1992, when it was born with the objective of making the Burial of the Sardine celebrations more popular, drawing upon various local beliefs related to witchcraft, including the belief that witches were able to transform themselves into donkeys in order to gain entry into the homes of the country folk, to cast their spells.

It begins with the appearance of strange women in various balconies and windows. Once the sardine has passed them, they transform into donkeys. They make their way together to the square, where they scare the living daylights out of some peasants, who work out that they are these famous Burras.

So they turn back into witches and form a coven, invoking a demon, who appears as a large figure with a skull for a head, accompanied by numerous imps. The witches dance with the demons, filling the plaza with noise, until the sound of religious music is heard, which indicates the presence of the Inquisition. At that moment, a group of friars, accompanied by a Bishop arrive, who begins an exorcism, calling upon the Archangel Michael for help. The latter appears in the sky, accompanied by various angels and fight against the big demon. Once the demon lies defeated on the ground, the Bishop orders the burning of the witches on the bonfire along with the sardine. (And everyone lives happily ever after.)

It usually takes place on the Friday after Shrove Tuesday, in the Plaza de San Pedro in Güímar, starting at 9 p.m. And of course it’s free. Just think how much you’d have to pay for the drugs to have an equivalent experience anywhere else!

Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2011

Carnival 2011 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

After the Election of the Carnival Queen on Wednesday, 2 March, the main events of Carnival in the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2011 are:
  • Friday, March 4th: Santa Cruz Carnaval takes to the streets, with the Cabalgata Anunciadora (Opening Parade) from 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 5th: Ministry of Sound. 11 p.m. – 6 a.m.
  • Tuesday, March 8th: (Carnaval Tuesday): The Coso Apoteosis (Main Parade) along the front at Santa Cruz (Avenidas de Francisco La Roche and Marítima), from around 4 p.m. 
  • Ash Wednesday, March 9th: Burial of the Sardine. Where it’s essential for men to dress up as "Widows" to mourn the poor old defunct sardine and generally have a blasphemous night of it. The funeral procession is along the following streets; Juan Pablo II, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina ending in the Avenida Francisco La Roche, where the sardine is then cremated.
  • Saturday, March 12th: Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnaval) is a new phenomenon to Santa Cruz in recent years, featuring live music and dancing around the city’s squares; Plaza de la Candelaria, Plaza del Príncipe, Plaza de Europa & Plaza Weyler, plus an ear-splittingly noisy tracas/mascletas of firework explosions, in the style of the Fallas de Valencia. The Coso Infantil (Junior Parade) takes place at 6 p.m., with the route as follows: Francisco La Roche, Avenida Marítima ending in Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena.
  • Sunday, March 13th: Sunday morning, 10 a.m. begins an exhibition of Automóviles Antiguos (Vintage Cars) which is when these beautiful vehicles gather at the Parque García Sanabria and then parade around the city from mid-day. End of carnival parties.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2011

Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2011, Naomi Cabrera Pulido

Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2011, was Naomi Cabrera Pulido, with "Cien años de historia" (One Hundred Years of History), designed by Leo Martínez and representing newspaper El Día, who won for the 3rd consecutive year.

In 2011, the court consisted:

  1. 1st Maid of Honour: Fabiana Milena Vera Martínez, with "Cabaret", representing Tranvía de Tenerife (Tenerife Tram), designed by Santi Castro.
  2. 2nd Maid of Honour: Sonia Hernández Fumero, with "Freyja", representing Centro Comercial Meridiano, by Saliarca Creativos.
  3. 3rd Maid of Honour: Carmen Idaira González Díaz, with "Felicidad" (Happiness), for Redetel Telefonía S. A., by Juan Carlos Armas.
  4. 4th Maid of Honour: Naomi Cordobez Hernández, with a costume entitled "Canaima", representing Floristería Tin, designed by Juan Carlos Armas.
The theme of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in 2011 was "Enrique González and the murgas of the Canary Islands". The theme honoured, Enrique González Bethencourt, the father of the murgas, founder of several carnival events, such as the Burial of the Sardine and of murga, Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá, who had died in 2010. The stage at the International Trade and Congress Centre had decoration dedicated to Don Enrique with portraits formed like a great clown costume. To the sides, trumpets and instruments characteristic of the murgas. The gala for the election of the Carnival Queen was directed by Sergio García. The final of the murga contests was held, for the first time, at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium with an audience of 20,000 people.

Tenerife Land of Eternal Christmas

Sunbathing SantaDesert Island ChristmasScuba Diving SantaTropical Santa
Santa's Having a Whale of a TimeSurfing SantaWaterski SantaCamel Rodeo Santa
With a wide range of products in each design, click the pics (above) to see the full selections.