After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional ( |
| Santa Cruz Carnival 2018 |
On February 1st, the Eve of Candlemass, you should take down your Christmas decorations. Decorations have to be left up past Twelfth Night in Spain, otherwise they’d be gone before the main event - Los Reyes (The Three Kings) - on January 6th and you will often see decorations right through January, but also in British culture: "The eve of Candlemas was the day on which Christmas decorations of greenery were removed from people’s homes and churches."
February 2nd is an island-wide public holiday in honour of the patron of the Canary Islands: the Virgen de la Candelaria. The Fiesta de La Candelaria is held every February 2nd, coinciding with the celebration of Candlemass. In the town of Candelaria there is a program of religious events lasting several days.
Shrove Tuesday, February 13th will be a municipal public holiday in Adeje, Arafo, Arico, Arona, Candelaria, El Rosario, El Sauzal, Fasnia, Granadilla de Abona, Icod de los Vinos, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, Los Silos, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, San Miguel de Abona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Úrsula and Tacoronte for Carnival Tuesday. The main parade of the carnival in Santa Cruz takes place on February 13th, 2018.
Each year on February 15th, from 5 a.m., the doors of the Santa Catalina convent in La Laguna will be opened for the faithful and the curious to queue around the block for the chance to view the uncorrupted body of Sor María de Jesús (Sister Maria of Jesus) (1643 – 1731), popularly known as La Siervita.
