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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Carnaval 2005 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
It is almost Christmas and I am reminded that the moment this holiday is all over, the daily news will be dominated by preparations for the 2005 Carnaval, starting with numerous contests to choose the best singing & dancing troups, until we get to the weeks of the event itself.
"It's the second biggest in the world don't you know", after Rio. We're proud of that.
Indeed, according to the 2005 Program at the Carnaval's "official site" (yes, there's an English option), the contests begin on January 18th.
The theme of Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2005 is The Great Comedy, inspired in the great musicals of Broadway, particularly the musical comedies of the 1920s. The scenery that will be the backdrop for the Gala for the Election of the 2005 Carnival Queen in the capital's Plaza España will have an Art Deco style. More info »
This year, the festivities seem to be early in the calendar, with the main events as follows:
Wednesday 2nd February
Gala for the Election of the 2005 Carnival Queen
Friday 4th February
Proclamatory Parade
From 4th to 13th February
Dances with well-known Music Bands
Tuesday 8th February
"Coso" The apotheosis of Carnival
This is the main parade, which is always held on Shrove Tuesday and is usually televised. [1]
Friday 11th February
Burial of the Sardine [2]
Saturday 12th February
Children's Coso (parade)
Sunday 13th February
Piñata Sunday
Sunday morning sees the Concourse of Classic Cars which makes its noisy curcuit of the city streets, usually ending up at the Hotel Mencey.
[1] International TV coverage of the main events is likely to be available via tvCanaria, their International Chanel and Canal 96 on Digital +
[2] The Burial of the Sardine has again been changed to the Friday, as it was in 2004. The traditional date for this event "should" be Ash Wednesday. But, then again, it is supposed to mark the end of the Carnaval, which it still doesn't with events on the Saturday & Sunday.
Since preparations for the next one seem to begin as soon as the last finishes, one could argue that Carnaval in Tenerife NEVER ends!
There is more general information about Carnaval here from the Tenerife Island Council.
Labels: Carnaval
