Thursday, September 07, 2006

Carnaval 2007 Santa Cruz

Carnaval is celebrated in all the towns and villages of Tenerife, but with the greatest splendor in the capital of Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz. There are many activities as well as the main Carnaval 2007 Santa Cruz events, however, those which will be likely of most interest to visitors are:

Wednesday, February 14: Elección de la Reina del Carnaval
This is the huge gala for the selection of the Carnaval Queen, a spectacular event - for the size of the costumes - as well as performances of so many other groups involved. I've no idea how easy (or not) it is to attend this live, but it's televised - via satellite if you're outside Spain - and is well worth watching.

Friday, February 16: Cabalgata anunciadora del Carnaval
Once the participants are all chosen, this is the customary parade on the Friday night that brings "announces" the Carnaval to the streets of Santa Cruz.

Tuesday, February 20: Gran Coso Apoteosis del Carnaval
The main event of Carnaval is this big parade that happens on the afternoon of Shrove Tuesday. This is again televised, but that is no substitute for being there, preferably in costume. If you are visiting the island from elsewhere, this is the date you will not want to miss. Book early to avoid hotels being full!

Wednesday, February 21: Entierro de la Sardina
"Officially", the end of Carnaval, when the poor old sardine has his blasphemous funeral, followed by a cortege of wailing widows; men dressed up like pantomime dames and who are "on the game". (Well, you gotta make ends meet, don't you?) This is cited as happening on the proper date, Ash Wednesday. We'll keep our eye on this as it's been known to be moved until the following Friday.

Mind you, the whole of Carnaval had to be moved to the following weekend, owing to bad weather, this year. That was the only time in 15 years that I have know anything like that to have happened. Fingers crossed it remains so.

Two items that they don't mention and that I think are worth seeing are, if the usual calendar is followed, the Kids Parade on the following Saturday (in 2007, this will be February 24th) and the parade of Old Cars on the Sunday morning (February 25th, 2007) around the streets of Santa Cruz.

Obviously, we'll bring you more details when it gets a bit closer.

Carnaval 2007 Santa Cruz