Secret Tenerife: February 2015

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2015

Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2015, Adtemexi Cruz Hernández

Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2015 was Adtemexi Cruz Hernández, with "Aurea" (Golden), designed by Jorge González Santana and representing Fuente Alta bottled water and association 'Tu Santa Cruz'.

In 2015, the court was made up of:

1st Maid of Honour: Lucía González Ortega, with a costume entitled "Desde el cielo" (From heaven), designed by Antonio Santos Arteaga.
2nd Maid of Honour: Sonia Lechón Hernández, with "Resurgir" (Resurgence), designed by the Inmates of the Tenerife Penitentiary.
3rd Maid of Honour: Teresa Pitti Barquero, with a costume entitled "Always Forever", designed by Santi Castro.
4th Maid of Honour: Naomi Álvarez Fajardo, with "Enia, guardiana de una leyenda" (Enia, guardian of a legend), designed by Cavi-Lladó.

- Adtemexi Cruz Hernández, nueva Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- ¡Santa Cruz de Tenerife ya tiene Reina del Carnaval!

Not everyone is enthusiastic about carnaval, it seems, as comments on this report from Diario de Avisos reveal, calling it outdated and "Rubbish. Opium for the people. Mindless entertainment. Show maintained by corrupt politicians so that the people do not take care of other things. Media garbage."

The theme of the carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2015 was "The Future". Almost 7000 spectators at the carnival queen gala enjoyed an overture that recreated planet Earth in the future and in which robots, dancers, galactic stilt walkers and beings from other planets paraded on stage. Several trapeze artists flew over the Recinto Ferial and a giant human figure moved among the spectators until it reached the stage, in the style of La Fura dels Baus. Everything was surrounded by the light and the images projected by the large LED screen of more than 50 meters wide that surrounded the stage. One of the most emotional moments of the gala took place when the Guinness record of 1987 was revived on stage. That year more than 200 thousand people had danced to the rhythm of the queen of salsa, Celia Cruz. The stage was filled with dancers from the carnival groups and the voices of six singers reviewed the hits of the Cuban artist.

Tenerife ya tiene reina del carnaval, Adtemexi Cruz con la fantasía 'Aúrea'

The Annual Miracle of La Servita

Facade of the Santa Catalina Convent in La Laguna. Photo by Koppchen

On 15th February, the doors of the Santa Catalina convent in La Laguna will be opened (from 5am) for the faithful and the curious to queue around the block (~15,000 every year) to view the incorrupted body of Sor María de Jesús (Sister Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado) (1643 - 1731), known as La Siervita.

De León died on 15th February 1731 and three years later, in January 1734, her body was exhumed and her remains found to be intact, with wet clothes, flexible and with a natural colour, it was said. Still preserved in the convent, every 15th February, her body is placed on public display in a luxurious glass-covered coffin, which was donated by La Laguna born pirate, Amaro Pargo, her friend in life and benefactor of the convent, who was present at her exhumation.

María de León Bello y Delgado was born in El Sauzal on March 23rd, 1643 and entered the convent in February of 1668. She spent a year as a novice, then took up the habit for the rest of her life. Contemporary texts claim that shortly before she died, she "fell into ecstasy", while retaining a pulse for more than 24 hours.

However, we learn that the body is located ten meters away from where viewers are able to pass and the lighting isn't too good. And despite numerous claims, there are no scientifically verified cases of genuine incorruptibility. But as this post points out, "to be able to spend almost 300 years right next door to La Laguna town hall and still remain "uncorrupted" is a worthy miracle." :)

The Miraculous Sister María de Jesús

Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2015

Carnival 2015 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015: Gala for the Election of the Carnaval Queen. This spectacular is best seen on TV, from 9 p.m.
Friday, February 13th, 2015: Opening Parade, usually from 8 p.m.
NEW Sunday, February 15th, 2015: Daytime Carnaval 1 p.m.
Tuesday, February 17th, 2015: Main Parade, from 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2015: Burial of the Sardine 9 p.m.
Friday, February 20th, 2015: Coso Infantil (Kid's Parade), Avenida Francisco La Roche (Avenida de Anaga), Santa Cruz from 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 21st, 2015: Daytime Carnaval 1 p.m. onwards.
Sunday, February 22nd, 2015: Parade of Vintage Cars 10 a.m.

(Always providing that things go according to the usual schedule, they generally do, but we cannot be held responsible for changes that are beyond our control.)

This year's schedule of carnival events in Puerto de la Cruz: