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Easter Week in Tenerife

Representación de La Pasión de Adeje

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 crossVeronica, 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 CanariaMírame 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

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Sunday 6 April 2036

Thursday 10 April 2036

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Sunday 29 March 2037

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Sunday 18 April 2038

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Friday 8 April 2039

Sunday 25 March 2040

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Friday 30 March 2040

Sunday 14 April 2041

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Thursday 3 April 2042

Friday 4 April 2042

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Thursday 14 April 2044

Friday 15 April 2044

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Thursday 6 April 2045

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Sunday 18 March 2046

Thursday 22 March 2046

Friday 23 March 2046

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Thursday 11 April 2047

Friday 12 April 2047

Sunday 29 March 2048

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Thursday 15 April 2049

Friday 16 April 2049

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Thursday 7 April 2050

Friday 8 April 2050


Tenerife Land of Eternal Christmas

Sunbathing SantaDesert Island ChristmasScuba Diving SantaTropical Santa
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