... the most detailed English language website on the island.
After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional (see why) for big events such as Tenerife Carnaval, so please "Like" and follow our Facebook Page because that's where to see future updates.
The Tenerife Motor Sports Federation have published their calendar for the 2012 season and the following events are to take place on the island this year:
Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2012, Carmen Gil González
Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2012 was Carmen Gil González, with a costume entitled, "Imperio" (Empire), representing Zona Comercial Tranvía, designed by Santi Castro.
In 2012, the court was made up by:
1st Maid of Honour: Guacimara Afonso Martín, with a costume entitled 'Del color de la guayaba' (The color of guava), representing newspaper La Opinión de Tenerife and McDonalds and designed by Daniel Pagés.
2nd Maid of Honour: Cecilia Navarro Arteaga, with a costume entitled 'Quisiera ser' (I would like to be), representing Barbacoa Tacoronte Fiesta Canaria Carnaval and designed by Expedita Hernández.
3rd Maid of Honour: Jéssica Guardia Carrillo, with 'Aurora' (Dawn), representing NTM Digital and designed by David Hernández.
4th Maid of Honour: Fabiola Vera Martínez, with 'Siboney', representing Centro Comercial Meridiano, by Saliarca Creativos.
The theme of carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2012 was "Flower Power". The stage was initially going to be giant, but due to lack of budget it ended up being a long panel, with sixties motifs, such as a colourful bus, peace symbols and a Vespa scooter, with two other bright coloured panels on the right and left. On stage there were also images of previous carnival queens, legends such as "Don't worry be hippy" and figures and drawings of characters in hippie costumes. The stage was also decorated with buildings in the city drawn in a psychedelic style.
At the carnival queen gala, themes such as the arrival of man on the moon, the Vietnam War, student protests, the fight for the protection of nature and the emergence of the New Age were highlighted. These themes were mixed at the beginning of the performance in a conceptual way trying to emulate the artistic forms of that time. It was followed by a tribute to music groups and singers of the 60s, among which the Beatles stood out, with a huge yellow submarine, the Rolling Stones, with the characteristic mouth and large tongue, Fifth Dimension and Ben E. King with mythical songs performed by musicians from the islands, some of them with the lyrics changed to a more carnival tone to melodies such as, "Yellow Submarine ", "Stand by me ", "Aquarius" or "Let the Sunshine In".
Friday, February 17th, 2012: Opening Parade, usually from 8 p.m.
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012: Main Parade, from 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012: Burial of the Sardine 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 25th, 2012: Daytime Carnaval 1 p.m. onwards.
Sunday, February 26th, 2012: Gathering of Vintage Cars 10 a.m.
(Always providing that things go according to the usual schedule, they usually do, but we cannot be held responsible for changes that are beyond our control.)
It’s Tenerife, it’s carnivaland so the fun continues with yet more curious festivals that would make a night at your local BDSM fetish club seem a little dull. In Güímar, for instance, witches will once more turn into donkeys at their carnival closing festivities known as Las Burras de Güímar (The Donkeys of Güímar).
Legend has it that during a funeral, strange donkeys suddenly began to appear and accompany the funeral procession. Upon arrival in the town square, the local people thought they weren't really donkeys, because there was something very "fishy" about them. Local farmers then came up with the [quite possibly stupid] idea of poking them with a knife and, when pierced, the alleged donkeys become terrible and disgusting witches who begin to invoke Satan. The witches start dancing until the bishop arrives and holds an exorcism, calling upon the Archangel Michael for help, who comes down from heaven to fight with the Devil.
When San Miguel (that's the Archangel Michael or Saint Michael, not the beer) manages to kill the Devil after a gruelling fight, the Bishop also mandates that the donkeys be burned at the stake to restore tranquillity to the town.
This piece of street theatre dates all the way back to 1992, when it was born with the objective of making the Burial of the Sardine celebrations more popular, drawing upon various local beliefs related to witchcraft, including the belief that witches were able to transform themselves into donkeys in order to gain entry into the homes of the country folk, to cast their spells.
It begins with the appearance of strange women in various balconies and windows. Once the sardine has passed them, they transform into donkeys. They make their way together to the square, where they scare the living daylights out of some peasants, who work out that they are these famous Burras.
So they turn back into witches and form a coven, invoking a demon, who appears as a large figure with a skull for a head, accompanied by numerous imps. The witches dance with the demons, filling the plaza with noise, until the sound of religious music is heard, which indicates the presence of the Inquisition. At that moment, a group of friars, accompanied by a Bishop arrive, who begins an exorcism, calling upon the Archangel Michael for help. The latter appears in the sky, accompanied by various angels and fight against the big demon. Once the demon lies defeated on the ground, the Bishop orders the burning of the witches on the bonfire along with the sardine. (And everyone lives happily ever after.)
It usually takes place on the Friday after Shrove Tuesday, in the Plaza de San Pedro in Güímar, starting at 9 p.m. And of course it’s free. Just think how much you’d have to pay for the drugs to have an equivalent experience anywhere else!
Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2011, Naomi Cabrera Pulido
Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2011, was Naomi Cabrera Pulido, with "Cien años de historia" (One Hundred Years of History), designed by Leo Martínez and representing newspaper El Día, who won for the 3rd consecutive year.
In 2011, the court consisted:
1st Maid of Honour: Fabiana Milena Vera Martínez, with "Cabaret", representing Tranvía de Tenerife (Tenerife Tram), designed by Santi Castro.
3rd Maid of Honour: Carmen Idaira González Díaz, with "Felicidad" (Happiness), for Redetel Telefonía S. A., by Juan Carlos Armas.
4th Maid of Honour: Naomi Cordobez Hernández, with a costume entitled "Canaima", representing Floristería Tin, designed by Juan Carlos Armas.
The theme of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in 2011 was "Enrique González and the murgas of the Canary Islands", honouring, Enrique González Bethencourt, the father of the murgas, founder of several carnival events, including the Burial of the Sardine and of murga, Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá, who died in 2010. The stage at the International Trade and Congress Centre was dedicated to Don Enrique with portraits formed like a great clown costume. To the sides, trumpets and instruments characteristic of the murgas. The gala for the election of the Carnival Queen was directed by Sergio García. The murga contest final was held, for the first time, at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium with an audience of 20,000 people.
Shortly, a sign will be put up at the doors of the Basílica de Candelaria, it is reported, prohibiting entry to persons who are not dressed in a “dignified and respectful” manner. The objective is to keep out those people who would attempt to enter the church wearing only bikinis, swimsuits, beach wraps, sandals or merely wrapped in beach towels, says the report. The Vatican recently made a proclamation upgrading the status of the basilica, which is the reason for strengthening controls over the dress code to visit the islands’ Patroness. Among the restrictions: men are not permitted to enter wearing shorts and sandals. OK, we get the respect thing, but what did Jesus himself apparently wear?
Andy Montgomery mentioned that all the vegetable ingredients for puchero were laid out for sale on a special display at her local supermarket yesterday.
In my opinion, puchero is by far the best dish in Canarian Cuisine.
It’s a wonderfully warming stew of meat, vegetables and legumes, which is a perfect dish for a party or family gathering. Indeed one of my recipe books has a version that was used for weddings in the 19th Century. However, it’s also perfectly suited to everyday eating, so here’s a translation of the most typical version used in Canarian home cooking.
Ingredients:
200 grs dry chick-peas (garbanzo beans)
500 grs beef
500 grs pork or chicken (cheap cuts are best)
1 kg cabbage
200 grs pumpkin
200 grs French beans
1 fresh corncob
1 sweet potato
1 kg potatoes
30 grs vegetable marrow
1 or 2 carrots
1 leek
1 head of garlic
1 onion
1 tomato
saffron, thyme and salt.
Method:
Soak the chickpeas overnight in cold water, drain well and put in a large saucepan with the meat and cover with water. Add chopped leek, onion and tomato to the pan. Crush the garlic, and mix with the thyme, saffron and salt, preferably in a pestle and mortar, then add these to the pot also. When the meat is cooked add all the other vegetables, cut into large pieces, and then continue at a simmer until all the vegetables are tender but still whole.
To serve, remove the meat and vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon and arrange on serving dishes. Provide plenty of typical Canarian bread (crusty), local wine by the carafe and you have a very pleasant and relaxed meal for your guests to help themselves to. Buen provecho!
After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional (see why) for big events such as Tenerife Carnaval, so please "Like" and follow our Facebook Page because that's where to see future updates.
