Secret Tenerife: Easter Week in Tenerife

Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) is the first day of Semana Santa (Holy Week), which continues until Domingo de Resurrección (Resurrection or Easter Sunday), in Spain and the Canary Islands. Processions include La burrita (presumably the little donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem) and folks will have been out pruning palm fronds for decoration and to distribute to worshipers on the first of those dates.

Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) and Viernes Santo (Good Friday) are both observed as Fiestas Laborales (Public Holidays), whilst Easter Monday is not.

There are many events which take place in any parish, throughout the week, with the main events taking place on Viernes Santo (Good Friday).

Passion of Jesus Christ in Adeje

In the town of Adeje, which we'll reiterate is only a short bus (473 will take you to Adeje from Los Cristianos or Playa de Las Américas) or taxi ride from the resorts of the south, in the main street, Calle Grande (see map), starting from 12 noon on Good Friday, you can watch a magnificent re-enactment or Representación de La Pasión (Passion of Jesus Christ). This has become immensely popular with locals and tourists alike, so get there early to bag a good viewing spot.

La Pasión de Adeje was born spontaneously from the initiative of a group of residents in 1996, little by little it grew with the support of the Adeje town hall until it became what it is today: a hallmark of the town as well of one of the tourist attractions of the municipality during Holy Week.

"And it all started with a little donkey ..." This is how the story and representation of the last moments of the Life and Passion of Jesus Christ begins in Adeje. Silence throughout the streets creates an atmosphere of recollection and expectation. Spectators throw themselves fully into the performance and live the most moving scenes in history, letting tears run down their cheeks.

Adeje has singled out the celebration of Holy Week integrating religion and popular tradition through an event that has become synonymous with the municipality. It is an event that has been broadcast internationally through television for several years and whose protagonists are the residents of Adeje, the actors and actresses of this unique show of amateur theatre.

Good Friday dawns restlessly in Adeje. Hundreds of people quietly review their papers as they prepare to take the road to the Cultural Centre where they will dress in period clothes and make-up that will help create the characters of the representation. These are moments of nervous laughter and souvenir photos.

On the Calle Grande you can breathe tranquillity, welcoming the stages along the entire route from Plaza de la Cruz del Llano to the Plaza España where two crosses announce that a third will soon be built. Operators, sound and camera technicians, and artists make the final touches, while the first spectators arrive.

The stages, placed at a height that allows viewers to follow the development of the action, are made in detail and following the design patterns of the time. Every year there is something new, every year, the artist's imagination travels back to the early years of Christianity to faithfully recreate its architecture. The Municipal School of Music of Adeje has an important role in the preparation of all the melodies and songs that will be the backdrop of the performance.

Roman soldiers on foot and mounted on beautiful horses, the proud Pilate and his wife, Barabbas the thief, the circumspect Sanhedrin, the restrained Mary accompanied by Magdalene, the ordinary people and of course, the twelve disciples and Jesus mounted on his borriquilla (little donkey).

The Last Supper, the prayer on the Mount of Olives, the betrayal of Judas, the judgment in the Sanhedrin, the washing of the hands of Pilate and the plea of his wife, the lashes and the crown of thorns, carrying the cross, Veronica, his encounter with his mother and finally, the death on the cross and the tears of Mary. These are some of the scenes interpreted by the actors that fill the Gospel texts with life and reality. No one misses any detail, seeing it either directly or through the large screens that the town places strategically along the route.

Adeje Holy Week on Tele

The retransmission can be seen on Good Friday at 12 noon, on Televisión Canaria, Mírame TV, and other channels. The Representación de La Pasión in Adeje is an outdoor play that narrates the death and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Three hundred people participate in the production, including cast, management, assistants, operating personnel, art, props, costumes and makeup.

Semana Santa in San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Easter Processions in La Laguna

For processions of the type more traditionally known in Spain (particularly those in Seville), you only need to go north to the former capital of Tenerife, La Laguna, where these processions are central to Holy Week in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

A common feature in Spain is the usage of the "nazareno" or penitential robe for the participants in the Processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip ("capirote") used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colours and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. (These robes intentionally served as the basis for the traditional uniform for members of the Ku Klux Klan, ironically a very anti-Catholic organization.) Source

In La Laguna on Good Friday, you can usually see the Procesión Magna, which includes various of these brotherhoods, leaving from the Iglesia de la Concepción at 5 p.m. Then, later at 9 p.m. there's the Procesión del Silencio (Silent Procession), again with the penitent brotherhoods, starting from the Iglesia de la Concepción to the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.

Exhibit at the Pascua Florida in Guía de Isora

Pascua Florida in Guía de Isora

Usually taking place over the four days from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, inclusive, the Pascua Florida in Guía de Isora, is the unique and increasingly famous (as well as beautiful) Easter floral festival, held in the town.

Some more local customs for Easter in Tenerife:

Easter Dates until 2050

Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)	Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday)	Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
Sunday 2 April 2023	Thursday 6 April 2023	Friday 7 April 2023
Sunday 24 March 2024	Thursday 28 March 2024	Friday 29 March 2024
Sunday 13 April 2025	Thursday 17 April 2025	Friday 18 April 2025
Sunday 29 March 2026	Thursday 2 April 2026	Friday 3 April 2026
Sunday 21 March 2027	Thursday 25 March 2027	Friday 26 March 2027
Sunday 9 April 2028	Thursday 13 April 2028	Friday 14 April 2028
Sunday 25 March 2029	Thursday 29 March 2029	Friday 30 March 2029
Sunday 14 April 2030	Thursday 18 April 2030	Friday 19 April 2030
Sunday 6 April 2031	Thursday 10 April 2031	Friday 11 April 2031
Sunday 21 March 2032	Thursday 25 March 2032	Friday 26 March 2032
Sunday 10 April 2033	Thursday 14 April 2033	Friday 15 April 2033
Sunday 2 April 2034	Thursday 6 April 2034	Friday 7 April 2034
Sunday 18 March 2035	Thursday 22 March 2035	Friday 23 March 2035
Sunday 6 April 2036	Thursday 10 April 2036	Friday 11 April 2036
Sunday 29 March 2037	Thursday 2 April 2037	Friday 3 April 2037
Sunday 18 April 2038	Thursday 22 April 2038	Friday 23 April 2038
Sunday 3 April 2039	Thursday 7 April 2039	Friday 8 April 2039
Sunday 25 March 2040	Thursday 29 March 2040	Friday 30 March 2040
Sunday 14 April 2041	Thursday 18 April 2041	Friday 19 April 2041
Sunday 30 March 2042	Thursday 3 April 2042	Friday 4 April 2042
Sunday 22 March 2043	Thursday 26 March 2043	Friday 27 March 2043
Sunday 10 April 2044	Thursday 14 April 2044	Friday 15 April 2044
Sunday 2 April 2045	Thursday 6 April 2045	Friday 7 April 2045
Sunday 18 March 2046	Thursday 22 March 2046	Friday 23 March 2046
Sunday 7 April 2047	Thursday 11 April 2047	Friday 12 April 2047
Sunday 29 March 2048	Thursday 2 April 2048	Friday 3 April 2048
Sunday 11 April 2049	Thursday 15 April 2049	Friday 16 April 2049
Sunday 3 April 2050	Thursday 7 April 2050	Friday 8 April 2050