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Friday, August 10, 2007
Tenerife: Something for the weekend 10/8 - 12/8
This weekend in Santa Cruz, Tenerife is the culmination of the Festival Mumes 2007, or Festival de Musicas Mestizas - that was opened by Senegalese singer and percussionist, Youssou N´Dour, back in July.
The non-politically correct definition of meztizo in my old dictionary was "half-breed". These days, when applying the word to persons, we would say, "of mixed race", I like Rudy's description of "melting pot" better and, when it's applied to music, in English, we would probably call it Fusion.
Who better could you get for this genre today than Orishas - whose mix of Cuban rhythms and hip-hop, is sometimes referred to as "Cubaton".
Orishas are playing on the esplanade behind the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz on Saturday, August 11th, from 8 p.m. onwards and, I don't mind saying that this is exactly where I'd like to be this weekend.
Video: Naci Orishas Live at Rock in Rio
La Noria Urban DJ Festival '07 continues on Saturday night in Santa Cruz, this week with Bajamar (Tenerife) House / Club / Dub DJ, Alex Méndez.
For the more traditional side of Tenerife events this week ....
Festividad de la Virgen de Candelaria
This week are Tenerife's biggest traditional fiestas, those in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands, in the town of Candelaria.
The fiestas started on August 8th and prolong until August 19th. On Saturday, August 11th, there is a guided pilgrimage along the camino viejo (old footpath), with the day's events culminating with a concert by Los Sabandeños in the plaza.
The biggest events take place on Tuesday, August 14th. Canarias24horas tell us that the romería (procession) gets going at around 4 p.m. from Punta Larga, proceeding to the Plaza, where at 8 p.m. there will be a reenactment of the Guanches discovering the Virgin. There will be Eucharist at midnight, coinciding with the return of the procession. The Basílica will stay open until 3 a.m. so people can enjoy the meeting of the parrandas - various folk groups that have been taking part in the processions.
On Wednesday, August 15th, the actual day of the fiestas and is a Public Holiday in Spain (The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), are the solemn celebrations with Eucharist at 11 a.m. in the Basílica.
"Many people make the journey from their houses to Candelaria on foot. This tradition takes place the night before the 15th and fills the roads with groups of pilgrims making their way to Candelaria.", say the Tourist Board.
There are others who make the pilgrimage down the mountains and there are some changes and restrictions this year, owing to the fire and the closure of forest tracks. The pilgrimages are expected to be on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. There is a whole page here about the measures, which includes permits for support vehicles. I'm not going to translate it all, because if you were going to be part of it, you'd probably be in a group, with at least someone who understands. It's probably not a good idea to attempt the pilgrimage independently, particularly under current circumstances.
The authorities expect around 200,000 people between August 12th and 15th and they mention 8,000 car parking spaces. My maths makes that 25 people to a car, so I guess we can expect things to be a little tight! :)
Festival of the Virgin of Candelaria
Bajada de Las Hayas (Bringing down the Beech trees)
This tradition, according to the Tourist Board website, is celebrated the second Saturday of the month - August 11th 2007 - in the district of La Guancha. It consists of a romería (procession) in which country folk, dressed in traditional attire, walk the hills of the district along a footpath used in the past to bring down pine needles, which are used to decorate the streets.
Quite possibly, after the fire, if there are any pine needles (or pine branches) left, they may decide to improvise on that element of this fiesta, rather than cut any more. Last week, with the romería in La Esperanza, La Opinión tells us that the fireworks were conspicuous by their absence, having being omitted out of fear and to eliminate any fire risk they present.
Bajada de Las Hayas (Bringing down the Beech trees)
Fiestas in honor of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria commence in the village of Arguayo, Santiago del Teide, on Saturday, 11th August. At 6 p.m. is the IV Subida al Panadero - such a fun name, which means, literally, "hill climb to the bakery." It's a run. There's a dance at night and another on Monday night, with various other events running through to August 19th.
Fiestas en Honor a Nuestra Señora de Candelaria en Arguayo
The fiestas in Bajamar, in the north of Tenerife, are still ongoing this weekend. There are fiestas in Alcalá, in the south.
Something for During the Week Too ...
The Tenerife Reunion 2007
On Tuesday, August 14th is Innovation - Tropicana Tenerife - The Tenerife Reunion 2007 (Via: Marchaymas) The most important breakbeat, hardcore and drum n bass event in Europe, apparently, at Tropicana Tenerife, Costa Adeje. From 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., for those with sufficient drugs or stamina! :)
Romeria San Roque Garachico
On Thursday, August 16th, is the traditional Romeria San Roque in Garachico, which is recognized as the biggest of these fiestas in the Isla Baja area. From 1 p.m. onwards, roughly. It has to be said that Marchaymas' video is a little short on images of the fiesta and the procession, but it looks like the folk were having a good time last year!
Romeria San Roque Garachico
Happy 85th Birthday CD Tenerife
This week, apparently, on the 8th, we forgot to say Happy 85th Birthday to Tenerife's football club, CD Tenerife, which was founded on August 8th, 1922. Pre-season matches are already underway and the 2007-2008 season will provide something else for you to do at the weekends when the season starts. Andy Woolley has a list of fixtures here.
More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.
