Tenerife in July 2017

Fiestas de Carmen in Los Realejos. By Javier1989canario (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]

July is another month with no national public holidays in Tenerife, although there are the following local Municipal Public Holidays in the districts mentioned.

• 11 July: Festivity of the Virgen del Carmen in Puerto de la Cruz
• 25 July: Festivity of Santiago Apóstol in Santiago del Teide
• 26 July: Santa Ana in Candelaria, Garachico and Santiago del Teide
• 31 July: Fiestas del Carmen in Los Realejos

The biggest events of July each year are the Fiestas del Carmen held in Puerto de la Cruz. Thousands of people gather to watch the Virgin as she's carried by fishermen onto one of the boats before setting sail on a maritime procession. 

Fiestas and Romerías taking place this month include:

• 9 July: (Second Sunday) Romería of San Benito Abad in La Laguna
• 11 July: Fiestas del Gran Poder de Dios and the Virgen del Carmen (a.k.a. July Fiestas) in Puerto de la Cruz. The Fiestas run right through from 1st - 30th July, but the big day for the Embarkation takes place this year on Tuesday, 11th July. (Always the Tuesday before the 16th.)
• 16 July: Fiestas del Carmen in Los Realejos and Santa Cruz
• 25 July: Fiestas of Santa Ana in Candelaria
• 25 July: Fiestas of Santiago Apóstol in Los Realejos
• 25 July: Commemoration of the Battle of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz 
• 27 July: Fiestas of San Cristóbal in San Cristóbal de La Laguna

25 July 1797 was a key date for the history of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Island's capital city. This was the day when a major battle broke out against the troops of the British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who tried unsuccessfully to conquer Tenerife, commemorated with a re-enactment of the naval battle.

Recreación Gesta del 25 de Julio de 1797 (2016)

Tenerife in June 2017

Floral carpets in the making in La Orotava

There are no public holidays in Tenerife in June.

Local holidays in individual municipalities in June include:

• 22 June: Infraoctava (the 8th day) of Corpus Christi in La Orotava.
• 24 June: Festivity of San Juan in Los Silos and San Juan de la Rambla.
• 29 June: Festivity of San Pedro Apóstol in El Sauzal and in Güímar.

As for celebrations, rest up at the beginning of the month as it gets busy all at once later on. On Wednesday, 21st June 2017, you will be able to celebrate the Summer solstice at Güímar Pyramids and observe the orientation of the pyramids with the sunset on the horizon, and the famous “double sunset”. 

The Día de alfombras (Day of the Carpets) takes place in La Orotava this year on Thursday, 22nd June 2017. This the day that the townspeople decorate the streets of the town with temporary carpets made from petals and other floral materials, which are then walked on and destroyed by the religious procession in the early evening. One of the most beautiful spectacles and there's no substitute for being there in person, with the ambience and the intoxicating aroma of millions of petals and several tons of toasted pine leaves that pervades the air.

Also on Thursday, 22nd June 2017, pop down to Puerto de la Cruz, where you can see the Enrame de los chorros, where seven old public drinking fountains are decorated with floral and vegetable adornments.

The next evening, Friday, 23rd June 2017, on Playa Jardin, Punta Brava, Puerto de la Cruz, on the Eve of San Juan, the Noche de San Juan, brings together pagan rituals with a free open-air festival of music and bonfires on the beach. Yes, free. In Britain you'd pay hundreds of pounds for similar in a muddy field!

On Saturday, 24th June 2017, watch the baño de las cabras as 300+ goats get their annual, ritual bath in the waters of the old fishing port in Puerto de la Cruz.

Then on Sunday, 25th June 2017, La Orotava celebrates the colourful Romería de San Isidro, one of the largest of these traditional pilgrimages, celebrated in the town ever since the second half of the 17th century.

And, during the second half of June and into July, the Fiestas de San Pedro are celebrated with various galas, music, folklore, etc. The principal areas where this fiesta is celebrated are in El Sauzal and in Güímar.

Romería De La Orotava 2017

Guide to Romerías in Tenerife 2017

Romería La Orotava

Romerías -- a kind of procession with folk dressed in traditional attire, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing - not to mention the free food and even freer flowing wine - in honour of a saint are one of the most colourful and fun ways to enjoy and immerse yourself in some Canarian culture. 

Many of these romerías have been celebrated for centuries and every year there is an ample programme. Some of the below have already passed (the list has only just become available), but I'm including them as it gives an indication for future years. This still doesn't include every single one in every town and village, many of which take place over the summer months, so watch out for them.

January

• 14/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Sebastián – San Sebastián de La Gomera
• 15/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Tigaiga – Los Realejos
• 15/01/2017– Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Arona Casco
• 15/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Chío – Guía de Isora
• 20/01/2017 – Eucaristía in honor of San Sebastián Mártir – Adeje
• 28/01/2017 – Romería Chica in honor of San Antonio Abad y La Virgen de la Esperanza y Baile de Magos – La Florida – La Orotava
• 29/01/2017 – 36th Romería de San Antonio Abad and Virgen de la Esperanza – La Florida – La Orotava 
• 29/01/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Buenavista del Norte

February

• None.

March

• 18/03/2017 - Romería de San José Barranco Hondo - CANDELARIA

April

• 30/04/2017 – Romería de San Marcos – Tegueste

May

• 01/05/2017 – Paseo Romero – Tíncer – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 02/05/2017 –  Baile de Magos – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 14/05/2017 – Romería in honor of La Virgen de Fátima – Valle San Lorenzo – Arona
• 15/05/2017 – Romería chica San Isidro Labrador – Los Realejos
• 21/05/2017 – Romería el Chorrillo – El Rosario
• 26/05/2017 – Romería La Corujera – Santa Úrsula
• 28/05/2017 – Romería San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza – Los Realejos
• 30/05/2017 – Romería in honor of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza – Las Mercedes – La Laguna

June

• 11/06/2017 – Romería in honor of San Antonio Abad – Granadilla de Abona
• 23/06/2017 – Baile de Magos – La Orotava
• 24/06/2017 – Subida del Santo – San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza (Romería Chica) – La Orotava
• 25/06/2017 – Romería San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza – La Orotava

July

• 02/07/2017 – Romería in honor of Hermano Pedro – Llano del Moro – El Rosario
• 09/07/2017 – Romería San Benito de Abad – La Laguna
• 16/07/2017 – Embarcación de La Virgen del Carmen – Las Galletas – Arona

August

• 06/08/2017 – Romería in honor of Virgen de La Esperanza – El Rosario
• 15/08/2017 – Peregrinación to the Basílica de Ntra. Sra. De Candelaria
• 16/08/2017 – Romería in honor of San Roque – Garachico
• 20/08/2017 – Romería Barquera in honor of San Casiano – Las Galletas – Arona
• 24/08/2017 – Corazones de Tejina – Tejina
• 26/08/2017 – Romería in honor of San Agustín y posterior Baile de Magos – Arafo

September

• 07/08/2017 - Romería de la Bajada de la Virgen del Socorro in Güímar
• Romería Benijos – LA OROTAVA
• Romeria de San José - SAN JUAN DE LA RAMBLA

October

• 15/10/2017 Romería de Adeje

Facebook group, Ropa de Magos - Traje típico Canario have a comprehensive CALENDARIO de ROMERÍAS y BAILES de MAGOS 2017 en Tenerife, which also includes the various Bailes de Magos - strictly typical costume only.

Guía de Romerías 2017

Tenerife in May 2017

Canarian Architecture

The month of May in Tenerife starts and ends with a pair of public holidays. The first is on Monday, 1st May 2017, for Fiesta del Trabajo (Workers’ Day). At the end of the month, on Tuesday, 30th May 2017, the archipelago celebrates Día de Canarias (Canaries Day), which is the anniversary of the first session of the Canary Islands' Parliament after the return of democracy in Spain.

May 3rd Día de la Cruz (Festival of the Crosses) is a municipal public holiday in Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz and, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for both the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Commemoration of the Founding of the City. On May 3rd, 1494, Alonso Fernández de Lugo, the military governor, erected a wooden cross on a Santa Cruz beach to officially found the city.

In the capital, as well as in Güímar and other towns, people decorate crosses with flowers and fruits, then place them on the ramblas of the city for everyone's enjoyment. In addition, each district of Santa Cruz (which also celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the city) makes or decorates its own crosses.

Los Realejos celebrates the Day of the Cross with a spectacular display of fireworks, one of the most outstanding in Europe and declared of National Tourist Interest. The two main streets of the town, the streets of El Medio and Del Sol, rival for more than three hours to offer the best pyrotechnic show.

May 5th marks the anniversary, in Garachico, of the 1706 eruption.

In Spain, Día de la Madre (Mother's Day) has been celebrated on the first Sunday in May, since 1965 (previously on 8th December, the day of the Immaculate Conception). This year, Mother's Day in Spain falls on Sunday, 7th May 2017.

Fiestas de la Cruz y enrame de Cruces - Güímar - Mayo del 2015

Tenerife in April 2017

Easter in Los Realejos Image: Franciscana Cofradía del Nazareno [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0]

The biggest events in April 2017 are those relating to Easter. Celebrations begin on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), 9th April 2017, when there will be processions in many towns and villages after a little flurry of pruning of palm trees and Spring cleaning in the run up. These parades have been described as "happy and less crowded celebrations" than those later on in the week.

Thursday, 13th April 2017 (Jueves Santo/Maundy Thursday) and Friday, 14th April 2017 (Viernes Santo/Good Friday) are public holidays this month, while it must be remembered that Easter Monday is not a holiday in Spain.

The main events take place on Viernes Santo (Good Friday) with the various processions of Semana Santa de La Laguna and the Representación de la Pasión (Passion Play) or Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) in Adeje.

Also very much worth seeing are the floral displays of the Pascua Florida, the unique Easter floral festival, in the oldest central part of Guía de Isora town between Thursday, 13th April, and Easter Sunday, 16th April.

On Monday, 24th April 2017, Vilaflor celebrates the Festivity of Hermano Pedro (Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur), born in the town in 1626, a missionary in Guatemala, canonised as the "first Canarian and Guatemalan saint" in 2002.

Tuesday, 25th April 2017 the towns of Icod de los Vinos and Tegueste celebrate the Festivity of San Marcos Evangelista (St. Mark the Evangelist). (These last two dates are Municipal Public Holidays in the the districts mentioned.)

On Sunday, 30th April 2017, Tegueste celebrates its Romería de San Marcos, part of the XLIX Fiestas y Romería de San Marcos 2017 in honour of town patron, San Marcos Evangelista (St. Mark the Evangelist). This traditional fiesta opens the romeria season that carries of through the spring and summer and draws one of the biggest crowds in the Canary Islands.  This year 24 carts will accompany the four ships, drawn by oxen, that represent the streets of Pedro Alvarez, Tegueste, San Luis and El Socorro. Also taking place is the Floral Dance, the symbol of the traditions of the town. There will be herds of animals, folk groups, thousands of people in traditional dress, and lots of food and flowing wine.

 Representación de la Pasión Adeje 2016

Tenerife in March 2017

Apoteosis del Carnaval, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Photo: Philippe Teuwen  Some rights reserved

Santa Cruz' Carnival 2017 continues on Ash Wednesday, 1st March with the Burial of the Sardine. This curious tradition signifies the end of the carnival celebrations and excesses and the arrival of lent, although carnival continues on until the weekend in the north and then moves to the south of the island, where carnivals take place this month: Los Gigantes runs from March 9th - March 18th, while Los Cristianos carnival is from March 17th - March 27th. 

Sunday, 19th March 2017 is Día del Padre (Father's Day). In Catholic Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 (St. Joseph's Day) since the Middle Ages.

There are no public holidays nor local public holidays this month.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2017

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2017, Judit López García

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2017 was Judit López García, in a costume entitled "Madame Soleil" (Madam Sun), designed by Jorge González Santana and sponsored by bottled water company, Fuentealta.

In 2017, the court consisted:

1. First Maid of Honour was Laura Rodríguez Jorge, with the costume named, 'Oración Caribe' (Caribbean Prayer), designed by Daniel Pagés and representing McDonald's and newspaper, La Opinión de Tenerife.
2. Second Maid of Honour of Santa Cruz' Carnival was Samantha Rodríguez Abrante, with the costume entited, 'La Joya' (The Jewel), designed by Francisco de Borja Ledesma Abreu and representing Canary Islands' honey rum brand, Ron La Indiana.
3. Third Maid of Honour was Carla Cabrera González, with a costume entitled 'Aguas de Victoria' (Victory Waters), by designer Santi Castro and representing shopping centre Centro Comercial Añaza Carrefour.
4. Fourth Maid of Honour was Shaila Perdomo Quintero, with a costume entitled 'Alba', designed by Eduardo Martín Quintero and representing shopping centre Centro Comercial Alcampo La Laguna.

The theme of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in 2017 was "El Caribe" (The Caribbean). The Carnival Queen Gala was directed (for the second consecutive year) by Enrique Camacho, and singer Jadel also repeated as master of ceremonies, this time accompanied by Andalusian artist Roko. More than 5000 spectators witnessed the gala live at the Recinto Ferial, an event for which tickets had been sold out just a week before. The Gala was broadcast live by Televisión Canaria and Televisión Española, through La 2 and TVE Internacional, being the year it had the most international coverage in the media. 

The Gala staged a cruise through the Caribbean, where there was a tribute to the carnival of different Caribbean countries such as Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, etc. Also during the Gala was a tribute to Antonio Messeguer, who said goodbye to the character to whom he had given life during the carnivals of the last four decades, Fidel Castro, with a great ovation from the spectators. 

• Junior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2017
• Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2017
• Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2017

In 2017 the Casa del Carnaval in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a museum dedicated to the history of this emblematic festival, was opened.

VIDEO: Gala Reina Carnaval S/C Tenerife | 2017