Christmas in the Canary Islands

Spain and the Canary Islands have EVERYTHING when it comes to Christmas: the biggest lottery in the world, a host of natural Christmas decorations and, celebrations that run on into January. Here in Tenerife, that may even include a proper "White Christmas".

For more about Christmas in Tenerife, visit: Canary Islands Christmas 2006 | Tenerife in December | Santa's Tropical Grotto | Tenerife Christmas Images | Exclusive Tenerife Gifts ...

The Canary Islands are islands of stark contrasts. Politically Spanish, but only 60 miles from the north African coast, they have an unique culture with European, Arabic and South American influences. Plus that famous sub-tropical climate with year-round Spring-like weather.

Christmas week is acknowledged as the busiest week of the year for the tourist sector, with hotels and airports registering new record numbers each year as millions of Northern Europeans escape the cold to spend the holidays in one of the "Top 10 Winter Sun Spots".

British restaurants in the tourist resorts do serve turkey dinners with all the trimmings, which is probably just as well for visitors, because Christmas Day isn't celebrated much here.

Christmas Eve is the family get-together, New Year is more lively, but if you want to see the "real" Canarian Christmas, you need to hang around until January 5th / 6th.

So, between December 8th, when, traditionally, the decorations go up and until January 6th, when the Three Kings have been and brought the gifts to thousands of Canary Islands' children, we'll be bringing you as many photos, reports, recipes and explanations of the local Christmas customs as we can.

This post will be the index to Christmas items, so, bookmark it or take this moment to subscribe to our XML feed so that you will know when we have posted something new. And, as the worst cliches always say, "Watch this space!"

Tenerife is # 1 for Christmas
Christmas Music in Tenerife
Tenerife Weather for Christmas
Christmas Decorations in Tenerife
Truchas de Batata (Sweet Potato Pies)
Polvorones (Powder Cakes)
Bethlehem in Tenerife
TurrÃ³n de Chocolate (Chocolate Fudge)
The cost of Christmas in Spain
Tenerife is top Christmas destination
El Gordo 'Forgets' Canary Islands Again
Nochebuena: Christmas Eve
Christmas Day - DÃ?a de Navidad
Canary Island Gift Buying
Day of the Innocent Saints
Santa Takes a Winter Break in Tenerife
Celebrating New Year in The Canary Islands
New Year 2006 Babies in Tenerife
Celebrating New Year With Dip
Los Reyes Magos: Epiphany, Jan 6th
Roscón de Reyes (Crown of Kings)
Cabalgata de Los Reyes Garachico 2006

This month's featured image, Flor de Pascua, is available now as free Windows Wallpaper, in three popular screen sizes. (Online postcards and other freebies ~~will also be added soon~~ available now.) The exclusive image is also available in our Souvenir Shop as a Christmas Card and as a host of stocking fillers.

For younger viewers and the full catalogue of our Christmas related designs, drop into Santa's Tropical Grotto - and see what Santa gets up to in Tenerife!

Free Diary Featuring Tenerife Images
Free Postcards Featuring Tenerife Images
Free Windows Wallpaper Featuring Tenerife Images