Tenerife in November 2016

Sparkling clear November sunlight.

November, starts with a National Public Holiday on the 1st for Todos los Santos (All Saints Day), celebrated to honour deceased relatives.

"Observed nationwide, many families, especially those of the older generations who are more akin to following traditions, gather in the cemeteries to regale their deceased loved ones with a visit as a reminder that they are not forgotten. Some even visit a few days prior to November 1st to clean the graves and have them ready for the big day. The traditional thing to do on November 1st is to purchase flowers, especially chrysanthemums and present them as gifts to their loved ones. It is the day of the year when the most flowers are sold, and the cemeteries are filled with colour from every type of flower imaginable." - All Saints' Day in Spain

The only Municipal Public Holiday in Tenerife in November is on the 25 November: the Festivity of Santa Catalina in Tacoronte.

The biggest celebrations in November are for San Andrés on 29 November - the Eve of Saint Andrew's Day - most notably in Icod de los Vinos with the Tablas de San Andrés (see video), while Puerto de la Cruz has it's Fiesta del Cacharro y la Castaña (Scrap Metal and Chestnut Festival).

Tablas de Icod de los Vinos

Tenerife in October 2016

Santa Úrsula, Tenerife

Hispanic Day (Día de la Hispanidad) or National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España) is an annual national public holiday in Spain on October 12th. 

The following Municipal Public Holidays are observed in individual districts:

• 3 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo de la Salud in Arona.
• 10 October: Festivity of Santa Úrsula, Patrona de la Villa in Adeje.
• 17 October: Festivity of Santísimo Cristo del Calvario in El Tanque.
• 21 October: Día de Santa Úrsula, in Santa Úrsula.
• 25 October: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte.

The following fiestas are celebrated in October:

• Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in Adeje.
• Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte.
• Nuestra Señora del Rosario on 3rd October in Fasnia.
• Nuestra Señora del Rosario on 7th October in El Rosario.
• Fiestas del Pilar on 12th October in Granadilla.
• Fiestas of Cristo del Calvario from 15th to 20th October in El Tanque.
• Fiestas Patronales on 21st October in Santa Úrsula.

Tenerife in September 2016

San Cristobal de La Laguna Pedro Szekely Some rights reserved

Among the numerous celebrations taking place during the month are the Fiestas del Cristo and the Festival del Drago in Icod de los Vinos; on 7th September there's the Romería Bajada del Socorro in Güímar; the Fiestas of the Virgen de La Luz de la Villa de Los Silos on 8th September; while on 17th September there's the Romería en Honor a San José in San Juan de La Rambla. Meanwhile the annual fiestas in the village of El Palmar in Buenavista Del Norte take place between 16th and 25th September, the final Sunday being the Day of Traditions with la trilla (threshing). Before that, from around 8pm on Saturday, 17th September, is the Baile de Las Libreas - a very curious satirical piece involving cross dressing, sarcastic gestures and Dusty Bin's Canarian Cousin showering the crowd with fireworks attached to his back. Honestly, unmissable.

Thanks to Jack Montgomery for the head's up on this brand new event taking place in Puerto de la Cruz this year over the weekend of the 16th, 17th and 18th September 2016: the Carnaval de Verano (Summer Carnival). The idea behind the event is to provide a taster to tourists, visitors and folk from other parts of the islands, so they can discover what they would see even more of if they come to the carnival proper next February.

Friday, 16th September 2016: The Inauguration is at mid-day. At 4pm, an exhibition of carnival costumes in the hotels Tenerife Playa, Valle Mar and Las Vegas, will be opened, together with a carnival procession. Dancing in the Plaza de Europa from 9pm. 

Saturday, 17th September 2016: From 11am in the area of San Telmo and the Avenida Colón, will be workshops in salsa and carnival make-up, an orchestra and a DJ. At 6pm in the Martiánez area, performances by the choreographed dance troops. From 8pm there will be a sampling of the now infamous Mascarita Ponte Tacón (Men's High Heels Marathon) from the Avenida Colón to the Plaza de Europa. And from 10pm there will be a Fiesta del Flotador (Float Party), which is a completely new event that's going to be a total surprise.

Sunday, 18th September 2016: For the last day, from 11am there will be kids' activities in the Avenida Colón, a DJ in the Plaza de Europa. From 4pm is the trademark Carnaval Cavalcade leaving from the Avenida Colón and terminating in the Plaza de Europa, where, from 8pm, is La Chalana in concert.

There are no national public holidays in September, but the following Municipal Public Holidays, where offices and shops close in the individual districts:

• 5 September: Fiesta of the patron in La Victoria de Acentejo.
• 7 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora del Socorro in Güímar.
• 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Luz in Los Silos.
• 8 September: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Abona in Arico.
• 8 September: Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Tegueste. 
• 12 September: Fiesta of San José in San Juan de la Rambla.
• 14 September: Fiesta of the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
• 19 September: Cristo de la Dulce Muerte in Guía de Isora.

But the biggest events of the month are the Fiestas in Honour of the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna (Holy Christ of La Laguna) in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. 

The program includes many religious events, classical music concerts, Canarian folklore, with highlights being: From around 8pm on Tuesday, 13th September from the Plaza de la Concepción, is the Caballitos de Fuegos y pandorgas (chariots of fire parade with giants and floats), followed, from around 9:30pm, by a Noche de las Tradiciones (Night of Traditions) in the Plaza del Cristo, culminating in fireworks from the Montaña de San Roque at midnight. On Wednesday, 14th September from 11pm there are the now famous fuegos del Risco y la traca - traditional noisy firework display and the arrival of the image of the Holy Christ to the square after a procession through the streets of the city. Friday, 16th September in the Plaza del Cristo - Festival Canarias Reggae.

Baile De Las Libreas - El Palmar - Buenavista Del Norte

Tenerife in August 2016

At the Guanche Ceremony in Candelaria 2016. Image: Ayuntamiento de Candelaria

August is packed with fiestas and romerías, but the biggest event each year is the Peregrinación a Candelaria (pilgrimage) and fiestas in Candelaria, which take place on the 14th and 15th of August. The most popular part of the annual celebrations is the Ceremony of the discovery of the Virgin of Candelaria, which takes place in the Plaza de la Basilica on 14th August from about 7:30pm.

August 15th is a National Public Holiday for Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption).

Other major celebrations taking place this month are the Romería de San Roque in Garachico on 16th August and the Corazones de Tejina around 24th August.

August fiesta dates for your diary:

• 6th August: Fiestas Patronales in La Matanza de Acentejo.
• 7th August: Romería of Ntra. Sra. de La Esperanza in La Esperanza
• 13th August: Bajada de las Hayas in honour of Ntra. Señora de La Esperanza in La Guancha
• 15th August:  Pilgrimage to the Basílica de Nrta. Señora de La Candelaria in Candelaria
• 16th August: Romería de San Roque in Garachico.
• 17th - 25th August: Fiestas de Santa Barbara in Icod de los Vinos.
• 21st August: Fiestas of San Joaquín (Joachim) in Fasnia.
• 24th August: Fiestas of San Bartolomé in Buenavista del Norte.
• 27th August: Romería de San Agustín in Arafo.
• 28th - 29th August: Fiestas of María Auxiliadora in Fasnia.
• 30th August: Fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) in El Tanque.

Municipal fiestas (shops and offices will be closed in the area specified):

• 6 August: Día de El Salvador in La Matanza de Acentejo.
• 8 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza in El Rosario.
• 16 August: Festivity of San Roque in Garachico.
• 22 August: Fiesta Patronal de San Joaquín in Fasnia.
• 22 August: Monday of the Fiestas Patronales in La Guancha.
• 24 August: Festivity of San Bartolomé in Buenavista del Norte.
• 29 August: Festivity of San Bernardo in Arafo.
• 29 August: Festivity of San Roque y San Agustín in Vilaflor.
• 31 August: Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Buen Viaje in El Tanque.

Romeria San Roque y San Agustin Vilaflor

Tenerife in July 2016

The Colours of Fiestas

The biggest events of the month are the July Fiestas in Puerto de la Cruz with the Embarcación Virgen del Carmen, which takes place each year on the on the Tuesday before the 16th - this year the 12th. These celebrations in honour of the Virgen del Carmen are the most important festivals in Puerto de la Cruz. Many thousands of people gather on the fishing harbour as she's carried by fishermen onto one of the boats before setting sail on an maritime procession.

There are no national or regional public holidays in July. However, at municipal level, the following fiestas are public holidays in the districts listed:

• 12th July - Fiestas of the Virgen del Carmen in Puerto de la Cruz.
• 25th July - Fiesta of Santiago Apóstol in Santiago del Teide.
• 26th July - Fiesta of Santa Ana in Candelaria, Garachico and Santiago del Teide.

 You'll also be able to join in the following celebrations:

• 10th July - Romería San Benito de Abad in La Laguna.
• 16th July - Fiestas of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Los Realejos.
• 25th July - Fiesta of Santiago Apóstol in Los Realejos.
• 25th July - Fiestas of Santa Ana in Candelaria.
• 25th July - Commemorations of the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with a re-enactment of the naval battle performed by locals and actors.
• 31st July - Romería Finca España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Embarcación Virgen del Carmen Puerto de La Cruz

Tenerife in June 2016

Corpus Christi Flower Carpet in La Orotava

There are no national or regional public holidays in June, but the month begins with one of the loveliest events of the whole year: the Día de las alfombras (Day of the carpets), when the streets of La Orotava will be filled with ephemeral floral carpets - and the heady aromas of petals and foliage - on the "octava" (eighth day) of Corpus Christi, which this year is on Thursday, 2nd June 2016.

There are the following municipal holidays in June:

• 2 June: Infraoctava del Corpus Christi in La Orotava.
• 13 June: Festivity of San Antonio de Padua in Granadilla de Abona.
•  24 June: Celebration of San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist) in Guía de Isora, Los Silos and San Juan de la Rambla.
• 29 June: Festivity of San Pedro Apóstol in El Sauzal and Güímar.

Fiestas being celebrated in June include:

• 13 June: San Antonio de Padua in Granadilla de Abona.
• 24 June: San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist) in Arico, Icod de los Vinos and in Puerto de La Cruz.
• 24 June: Nuestra Señora de los Reyes in Garachico.
• 29 June: San Pedro Apóstol in El Sauza.

And there's a pretty full programme of Romerías this month too.

• 5 June: Romería San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de la Cabeza in La Orotava.
• 5 June: Romería Guamasa in La Laguna.
• 12 June: Romería de la Mancha in Icod de los Vinos.
• 24 June: Romería de Igueste in Candelaria.
• 26 June: Romería Tacoronte in Tacoronte.
• 29 June: Romería San Pedro in El Sauzal.

Corpus Christi - Las Alfombras de Flores - La Orotava 2015

Tenerife in May 2016

Cruces de mayo by Jose Mesa

Sunday, May 1st is Mother's Day this year and is Día del Trabajo (Labour Day), for which there is a national public holiday (in lieu) on Monday, 2nd May. May 3rd is a holiday in Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz, at municipal level.

Tuesday, 3rd May is Día de la Cruz (Day of the Cross), which is celebrated in Santa Cruz (in honour of the city’s founding), Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna, Los Realejos (which, each year sees the annual firework battle: Europe's biggest firework display) and in Güímar with these floral crosses.

Monday, 30th May is a public holiday for Día de Canarias (Canary Islands Day), which remembers the anniversary of the first session of the autonomous Canary Islands Parliament, which took place on May 30th, 1983.

Video: Cruces-Fuegos 3 de Mayo 2015 - Los Realejos fireworks 2015 May 03