San Carlos de Tenerife, Santo Domingo

Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, San Carlos de Tenerife, in the 1930's

San Carlos de Tenerife, today in the centre of the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was the only independent jurisdiction on the outskirts of the capital and an example of the struggle and tenacity of the Canarians for having their own town and parish despite the interest of the capital's oligarchy.

A tenacity that explains their resistance to being assimilated by the city and to maintain their own town hall until 1911; an identity that, although today transformed by the destruction of part of the neighbourhood and the cultural uprooting characteristic of its absorption by a large city, has made a pride and awareness of belonging to a singular group in a city with a mulatto majority.

The history of San Carlos de Tenerife

The history of San Carlos begins in 1684 with the arrival of 97 families, a total of 543 people, from the Canary Islands, taken on ships belonging to the Sevillian, Ignacio Pérez Caro, in exchange for mercantile privileges and the position of Captain General of the Island. The lack of sanitation greatly affected the newcomers. In the first moments there was an intention to distribute them throughout the territory, but later it was decided to concentrate them in a single point, El Higuerito or El Higuero, six leagues from the capital, which would become the first site of the town of San Carlos de Tenerife.

At first it was considered suitable and they had even been assigned land and had been provided with money, corn, axes and tools and its town hall had been erected. But, shortly after, a serious epidemic broke out, and if they didn't leave that place as soon as possible, they would all perish. It was smallpox, which claimed 126 victims and left the rest in poor condition. The survivors wandered around the capital sustaining themselves by carrying firewood from the mountains and eating wild fruits. The Crown urged the governor to find another location.

Finally, they themselves chose the place that they considered most suitable, a promontory near Santo Domingo, against the opinion of the capital city council, which wanted their distribution between the neighbourhoods of San Antón, San Michael and Saint Lazarus. Despite this covert objective of the capital's elite to control the new population, placing it under their control, San Carlos would be the only town on the outskirts of Santo Domingo that would have its own jurisdiction and council. On May 18, 1688, it was established as a town hall. Only the decisive intervention of the High Court made the populationist interests of the Crown prevail over the landholding desire of the elite of the capital, who claimed imaginary property rights, born of their desire to plunder land, which made it possible for them to control the council and their ties and relations with the military power and the magistrates, despite their latent inability to make them profitable.

Despite such obstacles, San Carlos continued to expand, with its own vegetative growth, and with the settlement of new families from the Canary Islands.

The population was showing two characteristics; on the one hand, their character as poor peasants without means, white in a city in which the majority of the population was mulatto, where those of their colour were the privileged classes; and on the other hand, faced with such integration, due to such social position, they were necessarily doomed to integration, miscegenation and assimilation. Hence, survival as a village of humble farmers, but without mixing, was the only way to preserve such status. This differential character was openly shown with the importation from the Archipelago of an image of its Patron Saint, the Virgin of Candelaria, notoriously white, despite the fact that her original was black.

The events held to commemorate the proclamation of Ferdinand VI as king in 1746 showed the differentiated identity of San Carlos. On the afternoon of February 2, coinciding with the festivity of its Patron Saint, Our Lady of Candelaria, the Canarian residents of the town of San Carlos entered the city in a procession, bringing a garden of flowers with their gardener and a ship built on secret wheels. The gardener and a sailor who pretended to be the captain of the ship recited praises dedicating the gift to the Royal Majesties and disembarking a troop of sailors. They bravely played a quadrille with drawn swords and others inside the ship. They sang many verses to the sound of violins and, giving many cheers to the King, they pretended to attack the Castle in the square. The carts in the form of ships driven by oxen, with militiamen dressed in livery, who fought against those from the castle in a naval battle, the praises sung to the Virgin and in this case to the King, the sword dances ... They were all characteristic elements of a festival in the north east of Tenerife, where most of the founders of San Carlos came from, and which expressed the struggle between the good and the evil that the livery symbolized in its dialogue between the Castle and the Ship. 

San Carlos continued to grow in population significantly throughout the 18th century, becoming an agricultural town that supplied beans, cassava, corn, and rice to the capital. New immigrants from the Canary Islands gave the town of the islanders their peculiar stamp in the capital setting. Their origin from Tenerife and particularly from La Laguna was one of their components that differentiated them from other regions of colonial Santo Domingo in which other islands predominated or were more distributed. Around 1785, its inhabitants were described as the hardest working on the island. 

San Carlos de Tenerife | El barrio de San Carlos de Tenerife

Remembering Enrique González Bethencourt

Enrique González Bethencourt (September 23, 1924 - May 13, 2010) was the founder and director of the Afilarmónica NiFú-NiFá and is considered the father of the Canarian murgas. He was also one of the most important and beloved personalities of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival.

Third son of four brothers to a father from Cádiz, by profession he was a quantity surveyor. He was also trained in Fine Arts, exhibiting his pictorial work for the first time in July 1944, and created the poster for the 1992 Carnival. 

In the year 2000, González Bethencourt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Royal Order of Civil Merit. The same year, Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council named a street after its veteran murga, the Afilarmónica NiFú-NiFá. Such was the value of his work for the carnival that the 2011 edition was dedicated to him, in which the Queen's Gala became a posthumous tribute to his life and career. In addition, the poster for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2011 was made by his daughter.

On May 13, 2013, on the third anniversary of his death, a statue was inaugurated in his honor located in the Plaza del Príncipe in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 

(Photo: Koppchen, CC BY 3.0)

12 Blue Flag beaches in Tenerife in 2022

Playa El Duque, Adeje Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0

The Government of the Canary Islands reports that the islands have obtained 58 Blue Flag awards in the 2022 edition (actually six less than in 2021). Of these, 54 are beaches and four marinas. Twelve of the awarded beaches are in Tenerife: 

• Adeje: El Duque and Torviscas. 
• Arona: El Camisón and Las Vistas.
• Garachico: El Muelle and Natural Pools of El Caletón.
• Guía de Isora: Playa de la Jaquita.
• Icod de los Vinos: San Marcos.
• Los Realejos: Socorro.
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna: Natural Pools of Bajamar and Arenisco.
• Tacoronte: La Arena (Mesa del Mar).

To these must be added the Real Club Náutico de Tenerife (Royal Nautical Club) in Santa Cruz, the only marina on the island to receive this distinction.

Canarias consigue 58 galardones Bandera Azul en la edición de 2022

Montadito gomero (Open Faced Sandwich)

Montadito gomero (Gomeran Open Faced Sandwich)

In days past, an armadero in Tenerife was a tapas-sized bite or small portion of food that serves as an accompaniment to an alcoholic beverage, especially wine. The success of a guachinche or a good winery is not only in the wine, but also in the armaderos. And this deceptively simple Montadito gomero (Gomeran Open Faced Sandwich) is an example of such an armadero, which is reproduced here as much for the culinary aspect, as for the use of a couple of 'Canarianisms' - local words. Armadero was certainly new to me.

Ingredients:

Slices of bread from a pan normal (ordinary bread in Tenerife, or baguette)

Good quality tinned tuna in olive oil

Roasted red pepper (from a jar)

Method:

Slice the bread on the diagonal to achieve a larger surface, then lightly toast the slices - they need to remain tender. They can be toasted in a toaster or in the oven.

Once the bread is toasted, put a few strips of pepper on top of the bread, then put half the tuna from a can on top of the pepper.

That's it. Accompany with a good glass of wine. 

Montadito gomero

Garachico, 1706: the worst volcanic eruption in the history of the Canary Islands

Garachico from the sea by the 'new land' formed by the 1706 eruption

Lava from the Trevejo or Arenas Negras volcano, over three centuries ago, swept through one of the most prosperous towns in the archipelago, a disaster that offers many clues about life after a volcanic eruption

At nightfall from May 4 to 5, 1706, earthquakes began to be felt in Tenerife so strong that "sepulchres were seen with the effect of wanting to throw the dead bodies, the bells were heard that with felt blows seemed to ring in agony", according to Friar Domingo Josef Cassares. The tremors preceded an eruption that, without being one of the largest in the archipelago in terms of lava volume or duration, was the one with the largest human and economic footprint in its history. 

"It had a terrible impact, an enormous long-term repercussion, much greater than any other in the history of the Canary Islands," summarizes Carmen Romero, an expert geographer in historical Canarian volcanism. Today, when walking along the seafront avenue of Garachico, we can sit down to have a beer on top of that already firm lava flow and watch tourists take selfies and jump into the water in the natural pools created by the lava.

The Garachico eruption was decisive not only for the town itself, but for the entire archipelago. Its port concentrated a large part of the international trade that linked the island with Europe, Africa and America. But one of the two main lava tongues that swept through the town split the natural cove that sheltered the boats in half, disabling much of that precious port. The activity would move to the port of Santa Cruz, current capital, and many of the inhabitants left the place. "The population did not recover until well into the 20th century," says Romero, from the University of La Laguna (ULL).

The lava flows from the Arenas Negras eruption, so named because the entire area was covered by picón (volcanic gravel), devastated several towns as happened in Todoque (La Palma) on their way to the sea. But on that occasion, the worst was when it reached the coast: it did not lead to banana plantations and cliffs, but to a prosperous city. 

"There was a self-evacuation of the inhabitants of the affected areas, because the authorities did not organize it, as soon as the accretion balls began to fall, causing terrible fires". Those balls are pieces of up to three meters, broken off from the lava, that roll down the ravines and that become infernal projectiles when they reach the buildings.

The lava advanced much faster than from Cumbre Vieja in La Palma, since the flows travelled the 6.5 kilometres to the coast in a single day. The lava on La Palma covered no more than 5 kilometres of distance to the sea in 10 days. In Garachico, seven tongues reached the coast from the Trevejo volcano: the first caused an urgent evacuation on May 5, but the entire town had to leave on the 28th of that month when another threatened to trap those who remained. “The lava flows from La Palma have a morphology and viscosity that those from Garachico did not have,” explains Romero, as the first analyses of that magma spilled on the surface are confirming. That's why they are slower.

The lavas of Arenas Negras covered, after 40 days, an area of ​​more than seven square kilometres; the recent eruption of La Palma covered more than four in three weeks. Both are modest eruptions compared to Timanfaya, which lasted six years from 1730 and changed the entire structure of the island of Lanzarote. But the human impact is different: at the end of the 17th century, Garachico had more than 3,000 inhabitants; after the eruption, less than 500 remained, and there is no documentary evidence of any deaths. The bourgeoisie left the almost useless port. "The network of roads and the water conduction network were cut, which was essential because there were no springs in the lower part of the island," says the geographer. "Just like in La Palma, the lava flows cut off all the communication and supply infrastructures for the population," she adds.

Map of Garachico drawn up by Leonardo Torriani around 1588, a few years before the eruption,
with the sheltered horseshoe-shaped harbor still intact (right).

But there is hope and timely lessons from the case of Garachico and also of Timanfaya. Two Canarian words that are going to be key: entullar, covering the areas covered by the lava with borrowed earth, and sorribar, preparing that new land to cultivate or build on. And a determining concept: the will. “The recovery of the new territories after the lava flows is relatively fast if there is interest and economic capacity”, assures the expert in the historical eruptions of the Canary Islands. Garachico did not recover and lived in the legend of a glorious past: "Later it was said that it had been such a rich city that it had marble pavements," says Romero.

But Garachico did not recover that wealth because there was no intention; the new port was not built until 2012. The powers of the time were more interested in moving the economic flow closer to the capital, then La Laguna, from that remote part of the island, because a lava flow is not a curse that prevents a territory from recovering. Rather the other way around: in the Canary Islands have been creating life and wealth on the lava for centuries, despite the fact that they take the form of malpaís (badlands), that tortuous and arid terrain on which it seems impossible to even walk. 

View of Garachico, Tenerife, Spain Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Garachico was the proof: the original town was built on another lava platform, on a fajana (strip) like the one recently created on La Palma. It had risen on a previous delta. It can be seen in the urban fabric, in the form of arches, and when looking at an aerial photo of the city: a fan that unfolds over the sea. In a document from 1541 it is stated: “[Garachico] has been populated and founded very close to the sea, on badlands and cliffs and useless land, and because it is of such quality, and the people who have built their houses, it has been bringing land from another part to entullarlo, breaking big rocks and crags”.

The lava flows that swept it away over 300 years ago are now well-cared for natural pools in which to bathe placidly by the sea. Right next to the magmatic delta that is emerging in La Palma, there is another a little older, created in the San Juan eruption of 1949. La Bombilla is a population centre that was formed shortly after on top of that eruption, because of the lava gave rise to banana plantations. And the Timanfaya eruption, which destroyed villages and lasted more than 2,000 days, meant that Lanzarote now has perfect conditions for growing vines, thanks to the cunning of the locals, who took advantage of the condensation properties of the volcanic rock to pamper them and protect them from the winds.

“You don't remove [the lava]: you put it on top. It is as if it were a pot, you put soil and plants”, summarizes Romero. To build Garachico, it was necessary to entullar: bring soil from another part of the island, borrowed land, put it on the rough surface and generate a flat surface. “It is a common cultivation technique in the Canary Islands, not only in recent volcanoes, in all areas where there are badlands or lava flows. This is an infrastructure that farmers on the islands have been doing for hundreds of years”, highlights the ULL professor. 

Garachico, 1706: cómo se recuperó una villa de la peor erupción volcánica de la historia de Canarias (Via)

Tenerife in May 2022

House in the Calle Calvo Sotelo in Garachico, Tenerife

The month of May usually begins with a public holiday on the first for the Fiesta del Trabajo (Workers’ Day), but not this year as it falls on a Sunday anyway, with no day in lieu, because it was already swapped out for a different holiday. 

The Exhibition of Flowers, Plants and Traditional Canarian Crafts, part of the Fiestas de Mayo 2022 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Parque García Sanabria (García Sanabria park), remains open to the public until Tuesday, May 3. Also on Tuesday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m. is the Contest of Crosses of Natural Flowers located in the various neighbourhoods of the city. From 12:00 noon, the Exhibition of Crosses made with flowers, fruits and other materials. Follow the tour of the Rambla de Santa Cruz, ending in the Parque García Sanabria.

May 3, Día de la Cruz, is a municipal holiday in Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz (also for the Founding of the City) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There is an ample program of events for the Fiestas de Mayo (May Festivities) in the capital.

In Los Realejos, the famous firework "battle" between the streets of El Medio and El Sol, will be taking place as is traditional on May 3. At 10pm, there will be the Procession of the Holy Cross, during the course of which the pyrotechnic display will take place. Three hours of fireworks that make up one of the largest displays in Europe, provided by Hermanos Toste and Hermanos Caballer. The fireworks will also be broadcast live from the official Facebook page of the Department of Tourism. These fireworks are the best known event in a whole month of celebrations - with more than 70 events - in the Tenerife town.

Mass events are resumed such as Romería, Baile de Magos (Dance in Traditional Costume), Livestock Fair, Festival of the Islands, among other events. In addition to the traditional fireworks and floral bouquets, nearly 300 crosses are adorned throughout the municipality and especially the more than 80 that are concentrated in just a few streets in the centre of La Cruz Santa, all of them places with special roots of the festive tradition of the Crosses and Fireworks of May on the 2nd and 3rd, which hold the title of Festival of National Tourist Interest”, recalled mayor, Adolfo González.

The Feria de Artesanía (Craft Fair) on 14 and 15 May in the Avenida de Los Remedios, Los Realejos; concerts, sporting events and an exhibition, among other activities, complete the extensive festive program.

Presentado El Programa De Las Fiestas De Mayo 2022

On 3rd May 2022 in La Laguna, there will be a route of 58 crosses, made from or decorated with flowers, to visit around the various the streets and chapels of the city. The Cruces de Mayo de La Laguna return this year with four days of celebration and a route with 58 stops. After the previous edition was marked by the restrictions of the pandemic, citizens will once again be able to enjoy all the splendour of this festivity, with a program of events that combine tradition, devotion and art.

The program started on April 28, with the proclamation. On May 2, starting at 5:00 p.m., will be the opening and blessing of the crosses. The next day, May 3, between 10:00 and 20:00, you can visit the 58 chapels and crosses. The last act will be the Eucharist of the Holy Cross in memory of those who died this year, on May 5, at 8:00 p.m., in the Capilla de la Cruz de los Plateros.

Throughout the 58 stops it will be possible to enjoy a legacy of crosses have been treasured for centuries and that have been preserved thanks to love and care.

Las Cruces de Mayo de La Laguna recobran la normalidad con una ruta de 58 paradas y cuatro días de celebración (Via)

The Historic Village of Granadilla de Abona will dress in tradition, as every year, for the celebration of the Día de la Cruz (Day of the Cross), on May 3. More than twenty crosses will adorn the different corners and public spaces of the municipality, thanks to the involvement of groups, associations and educational centres. On Sunday, May 1, starting at 12:00 noon, there will be a concert by the music band 'Sociedad Cultural José Reyes Martín', and starting at 5:00 p.m. there will be a children's gymkhana. Both on Monday the 2nd and Tuesday the 3rd, liturgies will be held, starting at 8:00 p.m., in honor of the Christ of Calvary, which will be sung by Corazones Alegres, the José Reyes Martín Cultural Society and Viñático.

El Día de la Cruz vestirá de tradición las principales calles y plazas de Granadilla

May 5, is the anniversary of the eruption that destroyed Garachico's port.

Isla Tenerife Historic Rally

After the success of Club Rallyten Sport in organizing an event that counted for the Spanish Historic Vehicle Rally Championship (CERVH) last October, this season the the go-ahead has been given for the Orvecame Isla Tenerife Rally to be the third event of the national contest. Thus, the island rally this year is divided into two dates with the Isla Tenerife Rally taking place in October and on May 6 and 7, the Rally for historic vehicles.

The historic rally will develop over three days, one of them of competition. On Thursday, May 5, there will be the opening of the office, delivery of documentation and administrative verifications; Friday 6, starting at noon technical and administrative checks, and departure ceremony. Saturday, 7 May 2022 will be the day of competition with a 389 km rally route, of which 101 correspond to nine timed sections. Sections loaded with history in Tenerife motorsport have been chosen, mixing short and long versions.

The event will start and finish in the outskirts of the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and will have the support of the Orvecame-Cicar Group, the Tenerife Island Council and the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council.

En marcha el Rallye Isla Tenerife Histórico (CERVH) | 48º Rallye Tenerife Histórico | El Rally Isla de Tenerife Histórico arranca con 68 equipos inscritos

Valle de Guerra, Tenerife, celebrates its 73rd Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza on Sunday, May 15. The people of Valle de Guerra, in San Cristóbal de la Laguna, celebrate their Festivals in honour of San Isidro Labrador (Isidore the Laborer a Spanish farmworker known for his piety toward the poor and animals) and Santa María de la Cabeza (Maria Torribia a Spanish peasant woman who is believed to have married Saint Isidore) in May and have a program of events for the enjoyment of all. The Romería, with 22 carts, 19 folk groups and 22 yuntas (yokes - pairs of oxen). Afterwards, there will be a popular verbena (open air dance) with Generasion and Nueva Línea orchestras. 

“Valle de Guerra celebra su LXXIII Romería en honor a San Isidro Labrador y Santa María la Cabeza, el Domingo 15 de Mayo”

The Fiestas de Fátima in Arona are back in Valle San Lorenzo, with a very complete program that runs from May 1 to 31, and that can be consulted on the official website. Three events stand out: 

On May 13, the Baile de Magos (Dance in traditional dress) will take place in the Plaza de San Lorenzo starting at 10:00 p.m., with performances by various folk groups from the municipality and guests. 

The next day, May 14, a unique event will take place: the commemoration of the 400 years of the Valle San Lorenzo Parish Community. It will take place after the solemn Eucharist and, to close the night, the first verbena (open-air dance) will be held in Arona since 2020 with the orchestras Sensación Gomera and Los Ideales in the town square.

On the big day of the Fiestas de Fátima, on May 15, starting at 12:30 p.m., the Romería de Fátima returns, with its traditional route to La Centinela, where the floral offering and blessing to the municipality and its inhabitants will be made. The first image of Our Lady of Fátima arrived in 1950, the date on which the pilgrimage began, which has become one of the most deeply rooted traditions in the municipality, gaining strength in 1973, already converted into a pilgrimage of more than 3 kilometres. And after the pilgrimage comes the Great Dance of the Fátima Festivities, with orchestra Wamampy and the Los Ideales group. 

Fiestas de Fátima: Arona se prepara para la romería, el baile de magos y las verbenas

The Council of Granadilla de Abona, through the Department of Culture and Festivals, whose head is Eudita Mendoza, invite you to the celebration of the Día de las Tradiciones Canarias (Day of Canarian Traditions), on Sunday, 15 May 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the Plaza de la Cultura, Calle Los Panaderos, s/n- 38611 San Isidro, next to the old hermitage of San Isidro Labrador in the neighbourhood of San Isidro (Granadilla de Abona). Crafts, folklore, traditional sports, children's workshops and tasting of typical products are all part of the range of activities that can be enjoyed during the day.

Día de las Tradiciones Canarias

Tegueste Council, through the Department of Local Development and in collaboration with various local associations, has organised the second edition of the gastronomic event ‘Tegueste, cochino y vino’ (Tegueste, pork and wine) to encourage the consumption of local products of the municipality, between May 9 and 29.

Through this initiative, in which 15 restaurants and 10 wineries in the municipality participate, each establishment will offer a promotion that will include a dish or tapa made with pork as the main ingredient, paired with a Tegueste wine.

The Councillor for Local Development, Manuel Martín, points out that through campaigns such as 'Tegueste, pig and wine', the aim is to reinforce the commitment to the local economy. "This is a formula to publicise the quality of Tegueste's agricultural, livestock and wine products," he explains.

'Tegueste, pork and wine' is in collaboration with local associations Avite (Association of Vitiviniculturists of Villa de Tegueste), Tegueste Farmer's Market, Asevite (Association of Entrepreneurs of Villa de Tegueste), Denomination of Canary Islands Protected Origin, Boyeros Villa de Tegueste Cultural and Recreational Association and Tacoronte-Acentejo Denomination of Origin.

Details are available at the website www.teguestegastronomico.es

‘Tegueste, cochino y vino’ apuesta un año más por incentivar la gastronomía local

The City Council of La Laguna, for the second consecutive year, collaborates in the organization of Burger Fest, a gastronomic festival in which live music will be one of the main protagonists, taking place Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21, in the Plaza del Adelantado. In addition, "it will be an opportunity for local DJs to make their artistic work visible and exhibit it, sharing their musical selections with the public that attends the event." "We thus continue with one of the main lines of work of the Culture Area, which is to support the talent of the islands." The Burger Fest is organized by the Beers hamburger restaurant and will be attended by 'influencer' Joe Burgerchalenge (who describes himself as a Comedor profesional y abusador de buffets - Professional diner and abuser of buffets).

La plaza del Adelantado acoge la segunda edición del festival gastronómico Burguer Fest

Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, is organizing one of its traditional Sensaciones gastronomic events: the “Mándate una tapa” (Send yourself for tapas) tapas route - the longest running in Tenerife, celebrating its 13th edition - that will be held in the municipality between May 20 and June 19, 2022.

18 establishments are participating in the route that will offer tapas, desserts and cocktails. The price of a tapa with a small glass of wine, beer or water is €3. Desserts will cost €3 and cocktails, €4.

With the aim that you can carry out the route comfortably, they have created the website www.mandateunatapa.es where you can find all the information on the participants, their offer, address and hours, the local product and the prizes offered by the collaborating companies. The information will also be available through the mobile app. 

«Mándate una tapa» Ruta de tapas de Granadilla de Abona

Saturday, May 21, the Fiestas in honour of Nuestro Señor de La Cruz are taking place in Arico Viejo with a series of activities. At 4:00 p.m. the fun begins with the children's activities, mass will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. To close the celebrations, at 8:00 p.m., there will be a procession and the Papada and the dance will take place at 9:30 p.m.

Also on Saturday May 21, the coastal area of La Listada will host their Fiestas in honour of Santa Rita with mass at 12:00. and a tapas and wine event at the Polideportivo de La Listada (La Listada Sports Centre) with music by Chajora and Son de Chasna at 9:00 p.m. Councillor for Culture and Festivals, Dácil Cano, recognized "the great effort made by the Arico Viejo and La Listada festival commissions, which have been able to organize a great program of events after two years without being able to do so because of the pandemic". She congratulated the residents of both neighbourhoods, "wishing them to enjoy their celebrations and encouraging all residents and visitors to participate."

Este fin de semana se celebran las Fiestas en honor a Nuestro Señor de La Cruz en Arico Viejo y a Santa Rita en La Listada

The event 'Sensaciones del Campo a la Mesa' (Sensations from the Field to the Table) will take place on Friday, May 27, from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., in the Parque Los Hinojeros, in Granadilla de Abona with 12 establishments and five wineries of the Designation of Origin of Abona already registered. Tapas will be 1, 2 and 3 euros, while wines will cost 1 or 2 euros. In addition, the same venue will feature performances by the groups 'Magnumar Trío' and 'Una hora menos'.

Granadilla de Abona retoma la celebración de los populares eventos gastronómicos de ‘Sensaciones’

Saturday, May 28, Arafo celebrates a "Día de las Tradiciones" (Day of Traditions) in the Plaza Nuestra Señora del Carmen, organized by the Asociación Mi Barrio el Carmen se Mueve.

The activities during the day include a Mini Fair between 10:30 am and 10 pm; workshops, concerts, an exhibition of Canarian sports from 5pm to 6pm; folk music and theatre from 6pm to 8:30pm, with the day ending in a dinner for residents, starting at 8:30 pm.

Día de las Tradiciones

Craft Show in Finca España: The event joins the celebrations of the Day of the Canary Islands and starts on May 28 and 29. The City Council of La Laguna organizes the first Craft Show in Finca España on May 28 and 29, an event that opens the La Laguna artisan calendar and that aims to support the sector and increase the projection of traditional trades in the municipality by offering new visibility in the towns and neighbourhoods of the locality. But also, reinforcing training for the sector and, as a novelty this year, with a program of workshops that will be taught by the artisans themselves. The exhibition, in the church square of Finca España (Calle las Nieves, 3, 38205 San Cristóbal de La Laguna), can be visited from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 and from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 29.

La Laguna exhibe sus oficios tradicionales en la primera Muestra de Artesanía de Finca España

The Romería in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza in the district of Las Mercedes (San Cristóbal de La Laguna) is back this year after being suspended due to the pandemic for the last two years. 

The weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of May, the festive calendar contains practically all of its most traditional events: the romería, on Sunday, 29 May, with people in traditional dress, flocks of livestock, parrandas (bit like wandering minstrels) and the blessing of the cattle (around church square), are the first festivals organized in Las Mercedes after two years of restrictions.

The festivities will be opened with children's workshops, on Saturday, May 28, starting at 10:30 am, in the church square. At 10:00 p.m., the fireworks display will begin. The day ends with dancing to the Sonora Olympia orchestra.

On Sunday, May 29, the Big Day at 1:00 p.m., the procession will begin with the participation of local dignitaries, folk groups, dancers, residents and visitors. In this edition, its route will be shortened concentrating on the surroundings of the square. After this event, the traditional blessing of the cattle and an afternoon festival will take place, with the Guaydil and Clase Apara orchestras.

Tras dos años, Las Mercedes retoma las fiestas en honor a San Isidro y a Santa María de la Cabeza | Romería de Las Mercedes 2019

May 30, Día de Canarias (Canary Islands Day) is a public holiday.

This year with a beginning of a return to normal, there has been a veritable explosion in events being celebrated for the Día de Canarias (Day of the Canary Islands) - a public holiday that marks the anniversary of the first session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands. The emphasis is on the traditional and celebration of Canarian culture. Almost every town and village will have its own celebrations, demonstrating aspects of traditional life in the Canary Islands; with local produce, local sports, traditional dress, occupations, music, etc.

Here are just some of the events taking place around the island:

• Alcalá celebrates the Day of the Canary Islands with an agro-traditional market, a craft fair, children's activities and folklore. Monday May 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Plaza del Llano de Alcalá.
• Santiago del Teide,  Mon, 30 May 22: Agro-Artisan Fair, workshops and the municipal music band of Santiago del Teide concert. 

The Canarian tapas route and the Paseo Romero, are highlighted within the program Mayo Canario 2022 (Canarian May) that runs until June 4. Puerto de la Cruz City Council together with the Association of Merchants in the Old Town invite everyone to enjoy the program of festivities, Mayo Canario 2022, designed with the aim of sharing Canarian traditions in the streets and squares of the tourist city. This new initiative culminates on the Day of Canary Islands (May 30) with a folk festival in the Santa Bárbara battery next to the incomparable setting of the old fishing pier. 

The tapas route, with traditional Canarian products, began last Saturday, in up to 23 establishments in the city and runs until June 4.

The Paseo Romero (Traditional Procession) with a characteristic seafaring accent in this 14th edition of Mayo Canario, will have a route from the Martiánez area to the fishing pier this coming Saturday, May 28, (17:00-20:00hrs) "an activity that always arouses the interest of thousands of people, many of them dressed in typical Canarian dress and culminating in a dance that's undoubtedly the best finishing touch for such a day, especially after two years of pandemic.”

Puerto de la Cruz celebra el Mayo Canario, para disfrutar de las tradiciones de la tierra

On Monday, 30 May 2022, Tegueste Council will host the I Burrada Día de Canarias, organized by the Asociación Aguavite and the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, in the Plaza de San Marcos, Tegueste from 10:00 am to 13:30 hrs with:

• Exhibition of farm animals
• Cart rides for children
• Traditional sheep farming corner
• Exhibition of yuntas (yokes)
• Parade of participating donkeys from the Finca Zamorano with musical group, Fanfarria La Esponjas

Councillor, Julián Rodríguez encourages citizens to enjoy the various activities planned with the animals of the town. "Exhibitions, rides, games... An opportunity to enjoy a different day with the whole family," he says.

I Burrada Día de Canarias

Zaguanes, ajetreo en la calle

The representation "Zaguanes, ajetreo en la calle" (Zaguanes, hustle and bustle in the street) is presented as one of the outstanding acts. (Zaguan is a house plan configuration, very typical in the Canary Islands, where a central passageway leads from a front door to a patio or courtyard.)

The Council of San Miguel de Abona is to celebrate the Día de Canarias (Day of the Canary Islands) with a program that will take place on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 May, with various activities aimed at all audiences.

On Sunday, May 29, at 6:00 p.m., the official inauguration of the sculpture “Los presas canarios” (Presa Canario dog) will take place at the Cruce de El Frontón, honouring one of the most identifying animals of the islands.

At 6:30 p.m., the exhibition “En el andar del tiempo” (In the walk of time) will cover the walls of the Casino de San Miguel together with a round table where different generations of farmers from the municipality will be present.

At 9:00 p.m., the festivals return to San Miguel with a dance enlivened by the Wamampy Orchestra in the Plaza de la Constitución.

On Monday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the historic centre of San Miguel de Abona will live an authentic street representation of different eras. With "Zaguanes, ajetreo en la calle" (Zaguanes, hustle and bustle in the street) you can be part of a journey through the customs of the late nineteenth century. An "in situ" representation of life in the town at this time, where the environment and the different architectural elements that the town has, such as the church, the fountain or the square, will be used. All this, with the collaboration of numerous residents who will play the roles of the characters of different social statuses and will stage the various trades of the time (fisherwoman, telephone operator, high-society family, servants, peasants, farmers, vendors...)

The typical products of the land will not be missing so, in parallel, and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Plaza de la Iglesia will host a Craft and Food Fair, as well as traditional games and children's workshops. At 11:30 a.m., and in the same square, kids will be able to enjoy an authentic Children's Show.

The tasting of the traditional pella or pelota de gofio (gofio ball) will be at 5:00 p.m. when this typical Canarian food, accompanied by the music of the folk group "El Escaldón", will delight the palate of all attendees.

The closing of the Canary Islands Day celebrations in San Miguel de Abona will take place from 7:00 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución and will be performed by our exceptional Music Band.

The Council of San Miguel de Abona, invites all to participate in all the events scheduled for the Day of the Canary Islands, which has its origin in the date on which the first session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands met, held in its headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on May 30, 1983. The cultural richness that characterizes us is one of our hallmarks and it is of vital importance that all these traditions are not forgotten in future generations.

San Miguel celebra el Día de Canarias con numerosos actos para todos los públicos

The Club de Automóviles Antiguos, this year has moved it's traditional meet, usually held during carnival, to the Day of the Canary Islands (May 30). Santa Cruz de Tenerife will be able to enjoy this Monday, May 30, Día de Canarias (Canary Islands Day), the traditional Old Car Contest in Santa Cruz, with a tour of the city centre, departing from the García Sanabria Park, with exhibition in the Plaza de España and ending at the Real Club Náutico (Royal Yacht Club). Some thirty vehicles are expected to participate, all of them registered before 1939, authentic jewels of world motoring.

The meet will be begin 10:00 am in the García Sanabria Park. The departure is scheduled at 12.00 noon along the Rambla de Santa Cruz to go down San Sebastián Street to La Salle Avenue, cross the Galcerán Bridge, continue along Weyler Square, Méndez Núñez Square and the Clock of the Flowers, go down the Calle El Pilar, Villalba Hervás and La Marina to Avenida Francisco La Roche, where the cars will be displayed for about half an hour, to continue to the Real Club Náutico, where awards will be given over lunch.

Concurso de Coches Antiguos en Santa Cruz: el 30 de mayo

Arona Council, celebrates Canary Islands Day with a great concert by Los Sabandeños on Sunday 29, at 7:00 p.m., in the Infanta Leonor Auditorium. 

The Infanta Leonor Auditorium will be the scene of one of the most eagerly-awaited events in Arona to commemorate Canary Islands Day: the concert by Los Sabandeños, one of the islands' beacons of cultural identity. The event, organized by the Arona Town Hall Festival Area, is this Sunday, May 29, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Arona celebra el Día de Canarias con un concierto de Los Sabandeños en el Auditorio Infanta Leonor

Exhibición de CRUCES en las Ramblas de Santa Cruz de Tenerife