Four of the Most Fabulous Fiestas in Tenerife
As the largest and most populous of the Canary Islands, it’s not surprising that Tenerife has the most jam-packed annual events calendar with fiestas and traditional events taking place almost every month! If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Tenerife on cheap flights with airlines like Jet2.com, here are four of the best reasons to go.
Los Reyes Magos, January 5th Although Christmas is a major event for the residents of Tenerife, the real celebration takes place a couple of weeks later with the arrival of Los Reyes Magos, or ‘The Three Kings’. These are the same three kings from the nativity story, and are said to be responsible for distributing gifts across Spain, thus their arrival is marked in all the major towns of Tenerife by colorful parades, fire-eaters, acrobats and musicians, as well as an extravagant fireworks display at night.
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, February After the one in Rio de Janeiro, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the second-largest Carnival celebration in the world – and when you experience it, you’ll understand why! Thousands of costumed performers take to the streets to dance until the very early hours, with many different celebrations taking place over the course of about two weeks. The intricate and elaborate costumes will blow your mind and the atmosphere in Santa Cruz around Carnival time is like no other, making February perhaps the ultimate time to make that visit to Tenerife.
Fiestas del Carmen, July 16th You’re going to need your swimsuit if you visit Tenerife around the time of the Fiestas del Carmen, as this festival which celebrates the patron saint of fisherman involves getting very, very wet! Taking place in the town of Puerto de la Cruz, the water around the town’s harbor becomes filled with people, boats and inflatables throughout the day, and the streets are thronged with revelers wielding water guns and buckets, hoping to initiate a large-scale water fight. In the evening, an emotional parade will take place in which a statue of the Virgin del Carmen is sailed around the harbor accompanied by fireworks and music, making an unforgettable end to a truly unique fiesta.
All Saints’ Day, November 1st Images of ‘Sugar Skulls’ have made their way into popular culture in recent years, but their origins lie in All Saints’ Day, a traditional Spanish celebration in which families remember their dear and departed relatives. This day is a national holiday in Tenerife and people will go to the graves of their families to lay flowers, but the enormous flower stalls that line the streets and the ornate displays of flowers and Sugar Skull ornaments that people put together for the occasion are a sight to behold for visitors.
Los Reyes Magos, January 5th Although Christmas is a major event for the residents of Tenerife, the real celebration takes place a couple of weeks later with the arrival of Los Reyes Magos, or ‘The Three Kings’. These are the same three kings from the nativity story, and are said to be responsible for distributing gifts across Spain, thus their arrival is marked in all the major towns of Tenerife by colorful parades, fire-eaters, acrobats and musicians, as well as an extravagant fireworks display at night.
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, February After the one in Rio de Janeiro, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the second-largest Carnival celebration in the world – and when you experience it, you’ll understand why! Thousands of costumed performers take to the streets to dance until the very early hours, with many different celebrations taking place over the course of about two weeks. The intricate and elaborate costumes will blow your mind and the atmosphere in Santa Cruz around Carnival time is like no other, making February perhaps the ultimate time to make that visit to Tenerife.
Fiestas del Carmen, July 16th You’re going to need your swimsuit if you visit Tenerife around the time of the Fiestas del Carmen, as this festival which celebrates the patron saint of fisherman involves getting very, very wet! Taking place in the town of Puerto de la Cruz, the water around the town’s harbor becomes filled with people, boats and inflatables throughout the day, and the streets are thronged with revelers wielding water guns and buckets, hoping to initiate a large-scale water fight. In the evening, an emotional parade will take place in which a statue of the Virgin del Carmen is sailed around the harbor accompanied by fireworks and music, making an unforgettable end to a truly unique fiesta.
All Saints’ Day, November 1st Images of ‘Sugar Skulls’ have made their way into popular culture in recent years, but their origins lie in All Saints’ Day, a traditional Spanish celebration in which families remember their dear and departed relatives. This day is a national holiday in Tenerife and people will go to the graves of their families to lay flowers, but the enormous flower stalls that line the streets and the ornate displays of flowers and Sugar Skull ornaments that people put together for the occasion are a sight to behold for visitors.
