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Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2016

María Cañadas González, Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2016

Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2016 is María Cañadas González, with a costume entitled, Dos gardenias (Two gardenias), designed by Miguel Cañadas and representing Tercera Edad Corazón de Jesús de García Escámez y Velázquez Peluqueros. Her court is formed by Rosalía Martín López, with "Mambo", devised by Diseños Caracol and representing the Mercado de la Abejera, together with Isabel Luis Domínguez, with the Alexis Santana costume called “Through my eyes” for the San Diego Equestrian Center. 


Junior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2016

Tania Martín Quintero, Junior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016

At midnight there was no pumpkin, no lost glass slipper, there were only smiles and some tears but of joy, as Tania Martín Quintero, became the Junior Carnival Queen of 2016 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with a design by Eduardo Martín and the sponsorship of Cash & Carry Julián Hernándéz and Instalaciones de Cerrajería Antonio Martín. Tania's costume, Entre el bien y el mal, la medianoche está al llegar (Between good and evil, midnight is coming), was chosen from among 11 other designs and as many candidates. 

First maid of honor was, Dafne Expósito Alvarado, with the costume, A las profundidades llevé mi amor, mi canario y yo (I took my love, my canary and I to the depths), designed by Juliana Serrano; and the second maid of honour, Alexia Hernández Henriquez, with the design entitled Perdone caballero que yo no he sido (Excuse me, gentleman that I have not been) and whose author is Samuel Curbelo. The third of the maids of honour was Leire García Santana, with the fantasy Alicia, designed by Jorge González.


Tenerife Municipal Holidays 2016

Fiestas patronales de Las Carboneras, Anaga Beneharo Hdez. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]

As well as national, regional and island-specific public holidays, each municipality in Tenerife also has its own local public holidays, when town halls and businesses will be closed. Below is a list of those holidays throughout 2016. These dates often also give you a clue to the dates of fiestas held in each district:

ADEJE.
- 20 January. Festivity of San Sebastián.
- 10 October: Festivity of Santa Úrsula, Patrona de la Villa.
ARAFO.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 29 August: Festivity of San Bernardo.
ARONA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 3 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo de la Salud.
ARICO.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Abona.
BUENAVISTA DEL NORTE.
- 24 August: Festivity of San Bartolomé.
- 25 October: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios.
CANDELARIA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 26 July: Festivity of Santa Ana.
EL ROSARIO.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 8 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza.
EL SAUZAL.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 29 June: Festivity of San Pedro Apóstol.
EL TANQUE.
- 31 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Buen Viaje.
- 17 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo del Calvario.
FASNIA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 22 August: Fiesta Patronal de San Joaquín.
GARACHICO.
- 26 July: Festivity of Santa Ana.
- 16 August: Festivity of San Roque.
GRANADILLA DE ABONA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 13 June: Festivity of San Antonio de Padua, patron of the municipality.
GUÍA DE ISORA.
- 24 June: Celebration of San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist).
- 19 September: Celebration of the Santísimo Cristo de la Dulce Muerte.
GÜÍMAR.
- 29 June: Festivity of San Pedro Apóstol.
- 7 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora del Socorro.
ICOD DE LOS VINOS.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 25 April: Festivity of San Marcos Evangelista, patron of the city.
LA GUANCHA.
- 18 January: Día de Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza.
- 22 August: Monday of the Fiestas Patronales.
LA MATANZA DE ACENTEJO.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 6 August: Día de El Salvador.
LA OROTAVA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 2 June: Infraoctava del Corpus Christi.
LA VICTORIA DE ACENTEJO.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 5 September: Fiesta of the municipality's patron.
LOS REALEJOS.
- 22 January: Festivity of San Vicente.
- 3 May: Exaltación of the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross).
LOS SILOS.
- 24 June: Festivity of San Juan.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Luz.
PUERTO DE LA CRUZ.
- 3 May: Fiesta de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz y Conmemoración de la Fundación de la Ciudad (Exhaltation of the Holy Cross and Commemoration of the Founding of the City).
- 12 July: Festivity of the Virgen del Carmen.
SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA LAGUNA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 14 September: Fiesta of the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna.
SAN JUAN DE LA RAMBLA.
- 24 June: Fiesta of San Juan Bautista.
- 12 September: Fiesta of San José.
SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 29 September: Festivity of San Miguel Arcángel.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 3 May: Día de la Cruz (Fiesta fundacional).
SANTA ÚRSULA.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 21 October: Día de Santa Úrsula, Patrona del Municipio.
SANTIAGO DEL TEIDE.
- 25July: Festivity of Santiago Apóstol.
- 26 July: Festivity of Santa Ana.
TACORONTE.
- 9 February: Carnival Tuesday.
- 25 November: Festivity of Santa Catalina.
TEGUESTE.
- 25 April: Festivity of San Marcos Evangelista.
- 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.
VILAFLOR.
- 25 April: Festivity of Hermano Pedro.
- 29 August: Festivity of San Roque y San Agustín.

Carnaval 2016 in Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz carnival this year - the theme is The World Of Cinema - run from 31st January to 14th February 2016. The provisional program is as follows:
  • 31 January - Selection of the Junior Carnaval Queen
  • 4 February - Selection fo the Carnaval Queen
  • 6 February - Opening Parade
  • 9 February - Rally of the Valley (classic cars)
  • 10 February - Burial of the Sardine
  • 12 February - Men's High Heels Marathon
  • 13 February - Carnaval Main Parade
  • 14 February - End of Carnaval party

Tenerife in January 2016

Tenerife Fiestas in January 2016

The Plaza del Príncipe in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna are hosting, from 2nd to 5th January, the traditional Los Reyes (Three Kings) Crafts Fairs, with stalls from a total of 79 artisans. In both, the extended opening hours are from 11:00am to 10:00pm on each of the three days. (Feria de Artesanía en Reyes 2016 en Santa Cruz y La Laguna)

The night of January 5th sees the much awaited arrival of Los Reyes (The Three Kings) and January 6th is a public holiday, as Epiphany is the biggest family day of the holiday season.

As they do every year, Los Reyes (the Three Magi from the East) will be arriving in various locations in Tenerife tonight as part of their busy schedule delivering gifts to both children and adults alike. The well-behaved ones anyway.

In Santa Cruz, once again, they will be arriving to the Heliodoro Rodríguez López football stadium at around 5pm, then their procession takes place from the Avenida Bélgica ending in the Plaza de La Candelaria, between 7pm and 9pm.

In Adeje, The Three Kings will arrive at Adeje Football Pitch in a helicopter, at 5pm after which are children's entertainments and a grand cavalcade through the streets. Llegada del Helicóptero de SSMM Los Reyes Magos de Oriente

Almost all towns on the island will get a visit from Their Majesties. Should be easy to find: just aim for the centre of town and follow the [other] screaming kids!

Many towns and villages on the island will celebrate the Fiestas of San Antonio Abad (Saint Anthony the Abbot) and my pick would be the Feria Artesanía y Ganado San Antonio Abad 2016 – Los Silos (Crafts and Livestock Fair in Los Silos). The main activities are on Sunday17th January, starting at 10:00 hours with the Craft Fair taking place, until 19:00 pm in the Plaza de la Luzcourtyard of the former Convent of San Sebastian and the streets Olivo and Felix Benitez Lugo with the participation of 80 craftspeople. At the same time, in the grounds at the rear of the Convent of San Sebastian in Los Silos, the Exhibition of Livestock and pets will gather.

San Antonio Abad is the main protagonist also in the Fiestas Patronales y Romería de San Antonio Abad 2016 (the town's patron) in Arona, which culminate on Sunday, 17th January, with the traditional Romería that begins at 12:30 hrs. There the activities will be centered around the Plaza del Cristo, in the centre of Arona and the streets; Calle El Calvario, Calle Domínguez Alfonso, Calle La Luna, Calle Duque de la Torre.

There is an assumption that to see the ‘real’ Tenerife visitors have to go north, but not so. Anyone staying in Los Cristianos or Playa de las Americas is less than twenty minutes from this event, which takes place in the narrow streets of Arona.

On a possibly much smaller scale, there is also the Romeria San Antonio Abad 2016 Chio on Sunday, 17th January, from mid-day, in the village of Chio.

San Sebastian Festival 2016 in Adeje
A celebration that dates back to the late nineteenth century are the fiestas of San Sebastián in La Caleta, Adeje that attracts thousands to see the procession of horsemen accompanying the image on the morning of January 20th.

  • 19th January 20:00 hrs. Ermita de San Sebastián (La Enramada beach) Mass sung by the Parranda El Mesturao in honour of San Sebastián Mártir (Saint Sebastian). 21:00 hrs. Procession with the image of San Sebastián, accompanied by the Banda del Patronato Musical de la Histórica Villa de Adeje (Town Band). At the return to the church, there will be "an offering of fireworks".
  • 20th January 12:00 hrs. Eucharist in honour of San Sebastián Mártir, sung by the Coro Parroquial Santa Úrsula de Adeje (Choir), followed by the customary procession, accompanied by the Banda del Patronato Musical de la Histórica Villa de Adeje (Town Band), at the end of which will be the traditional blessing of the animals.

On Sunday, 24th January, the town of Güímar celebrates its Romería de San Antonio Abad. As is tradition, this pilgrimage will include the exhibition of farm animals, pets and exotic species, and the participation of folk groups from the municipality and other parts of the island. Events begin on Sunday, from 9:00 am, with the arrival and gathering of all the animals for the shows. At 11:00 am, in the church of Santo Domingo, there will be a Mass in honor of San Antonio followed by the pilgrimage, involving folk groups, clergy and municipal authorities. The Romería will proceed the blessing of all the attending animals. There will also be the Craft Fair with 37 stalls.

The final weekend of of the month, on Sunday, January 31st, sees the celebration of the Fiestas de San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte with it's traditional Feria de Ganado (Livestock Fair) and Romería. The Livestock Fair takes place from 11 am at the Urbanización Las Marinas in the Triana district of the town, whilst at the same time, mass is said in honour of the saint at the church of Ntra. Sra. de Los Remedios, after which the icon is taken in procession to the livestock enclosure, where the animals will be blessed at 1 pm.

At 2 pm the Romería of San Antonio Abad leaves from Trianathrough the streets to the Plaza de Los Remedios where the awards ceremony will take place.  Events of the day are rounded off with dancing to the Malibu Band.

Meanwhile, in the district of La Florida in La Orotava, as the culmination of their 10 day long program of fiestas for San Antonio Abad y la Virgen de La Esperanza 2016, the 35th Romería of San Antonio Abad and the Virgen de La Esperanza also begins at 2 pm, with the participation of musicians, carts, wagons, etc.

As well as national, regional and island-specific public holidays, each municipality in Tenerife also has its own local public holidays. 

Those in January 2016 are:
  • La Guancha: 18th January - Día de Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza
  • Adeje: 20th January - Festival of San Sebastián
  • Los Realejos: 22nd January - Festival of San Vicente
The following fiestas will be taking place on the island this month:
  • 17th January - Fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Arona, Buenavista del Norte, Güímar, La Florida (La Orotava) and Los Silos.
  • 21st January - Fiestas of San Sebastián in Adeje
  • 22nd January - Fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Icod de Los Vinos
  • 22nd January - Fiestas of San Sebastián in Los Realejos

Almond Flower Routes: Two routes this year, organised by Santiago del Teide on Saturday, 30th January and a second one, arranged by the Tenerife Cabildo, on Sunday, 31st.

On Saturday, 30th January, the XIX Ruta del Almendro en Flor (19th Almond Flower Route) has a 4.5 hour high difficulty "long route" or a 3 hour medium to low difficulty "short route", both leaving the plaza in Santiago del Teide at 08:30 hrs.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, 31st January, the Tenerife Cabildo and the Tenerife Rural Fundación have organised a 9km average-difficulty walk with a specialist guide, details at Tenerife Cabildo’s Almond Blossom Route in Santiago del Teide. Inscription for this walk needs to be made by Thursday, 28th January.

Previous inscription (and payment) is required to go on these walks (which have limited places), which can be done via the Santiago del Teide Town Hall website

And even if you don't wish to join one of these organised walks, this signals that now is probably the right time to take a trip up to Santiago del Teide and particularly the Arguayo valley to see the almonds in blossom.

Alongside the walks, Santiago del Teide is also holding their XIX Concurso de Fotografía “Almendro en Flor” (Almond Flower Photographic Contest), which they say is open to anyone over 18 of any nationality and country of residence.

There is also the Muestra gastronómica de la Ruta del Almendro en Flor  - linked gastronomic event - in which 13 bars and restaurants in the municipality are offering special breakfasts and menus between January 23rd and February 20th, where the principal ingredient is the almond.

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.