Saturday, September 29, 2007
Looking for the perfect tropical Christmas card?
Desert Island ChristmasThere's a rumour going about that Christmas is coming! :) No, seriously, people have been searching here lately for Tropical Christmas Cards and, ever eager to please, I wanted to point out that we have a selection of those, mainly because I thought they were rather apt for an island where you can be pretty certain of temperatures warm enough to be lolling about on the beach on Christmas Day.
So, if you're sick of cold weather and winter snow scenes, why not send some real "warm wishes" instead this year, with our desert island decorated tropical palm tree, or Santa enjoying the winter sun and water sports.
Scuba Diving Santa
Santa designed this especially for the scuba diving enthusiasts, though we think it's a bit risque when you see this on ladies thong knickers! :-)
Whichever you choose, it'll be like sending your Christmas Cards from a sub-tropical paradise island. If you're coming to Tenerife or the Canary Islands for Christmas, they're perfectly in keeping with your winter sun holiday to make your friends and relatives just that little more green ...
Click here to continue onto Santa's Tropical Grotto ...
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
What holidays are celebrated in the Canary Islands?
To respond to another reader's question, "What holidays are celebrated in the Canary Islands?", the answer is that these are primarily based upon the Public holidays celebrated in Spain, which includes a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances.
National Holidays
| Date | English name | Local name |
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Año Nuevo |
| moveable | Good Friday | Viernes Santo |
| May 1 | Labour Day | Día del Trabajador |
| August 15 | Assumption | Asunción |
| October 12 | Columbus Day | Día de la Hispanidad |
| November 1 | All Saints | Todos los Santos |
| December 6 | Constitution Day | Día de la Constitución |
| December 8 | Immaculate Conception | Inmaculada Concepción |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Navidad del Señor |
In addition to those, Canaries Day - Día de Canarias is celebrated here on May 30th and Epiphany - Día de Reyes is a public holiday on January 6th. Although the latter is listed as optional, it is the big day of the Christmas period, so I think there would be civil unrest if it wasn't observed!
Wikipedia additionally says that Holy Thursday - Jueves Santo (the day before Good Friday), is not observed as a holiday in the Canary Islands. However, every year except 2007 (when it was swapped out for something else and many complained) it has been observed here, to my knowledge.
You also have to add local holidays, usually for the patron / fiesta of individual towns. Shops might close in one area, but are open just a few miles away. In Santa Cruz, Shrove Tuesday is always a holiday for Carnaval.
But visitors need not worry about finding things to do and getting fed. With the economy relying on tourism, somewhere will be open 365 days a year, particularly in the resorts. And, even in other areas, if the day off is for a fiesta, then there will be processions to watch and plenty of hot dog stalls open!
If you live here, of course, you won't get any important business done on those days and, if you work here in anything to do with the tourist sector, the chances are that you will never have a day off on anyone's public holiday!
Related information: What's On When in Tenerife?
Labels: Christmas
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wrapping Up The Tenerife Christmas Season
Can you believe it's already a whole week since the Christmas season came to an end here in the Canary Islands?
OK, for many of you, Christmas will have ended what seems like an age ago and the party will have stopped after New Year, but here, with Los Reyes (Three Kings) on the Epiphany on January 6th and their cabalgata (cavalcade) on the night of the 5th, the celebrations go on much longer. (Carnaval 2007 is just around the corner, so the lull will be short-lived. :)
Christmas and New Year, we opted to spend relatively quietly, but I won't insult your intelligence with an account of those. They go much like they do elsewhere: eat too much, watch too much TV, irrespective of what movies are being re-run for the umpteenth time ... The televised Christmas Day Concert by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra was superior and I'd recommend trying to catch that again.
The order of service for the Cabalgata de Los Reyes that we went to watch in Garachico, was much the same as it had been in previous years. We discussed this at the time actually and decided that it has to be, because people - children especially - expect it all to be done in a certain way, at a certain time.
We prefer to get down to Garachico early, find a convenient place to park, stroll through the town and spend some quality time at pavement cafes and it's remarkable to see that only 10 minutes before the Kings arrive, there are only a few others waiting around for the show to start. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, just as the fanfare sounds their majesties' arrival, a crowd of hundreds appears. 
This year, we didn't have the additional entertainment - unless you count Melchor's "blue rinse" or the typical "school nativity" like hiccup, when the shepherds' campfire got rather out of control, setting light to the wooden tripod over it and needing to be doused with soil from a nearby municipal flower pot - nor the film show, while we waited in the square for the procession to finish winding it's way around the streets of Garachico. No idea why not, but it did mean waiting around for quite a bit.
Probably while they all had "conversations", as Sheila in La Palma points out in her account of the Three Kings Parade in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma:
Sheila writes, "The whole procession takes hours. They start at the post office, then when they get to the Plaza España, they have a conversation, find they're all off to visit the same baby, and decide to travel on together. Then at the Plaza Alemeda, they find King Herod's court, and have a conversation with him."
(Waiting around, however, was not wasted time, because we met and chatted to Jane and Tony from Balearic Discovery, who were staying in Garachico at Hotel El Patio - which they thoroughly recommend - and, if you fancy tailor-made short breaks and holidays on different Spanish island, then I'm sure they can help you.)
Back in Garachico, Herod even has his own castle. In other towns, such as in Icod de Los Vinos, he has to make do with doing "no good at all" at the town hall. Bite your tongue about that being no different use than any other day! :)And you've got to hand it to him, even if he does have evil intentions, just like Santa and the Three Kings, old Herod has a lot of mileage to cover each year.
Canarias24Horas have a nice account here, Los Reyes dejaron regalos e ilusión a su paso por Canarias, in Spanish, but with lots of pictures, about the Three Kings in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, who arrived by helicopter, camel and the shiny new tram.
Sheila also noticed that, "the shops stay open until about 1 am for people who like to leave present shopping until the last minute." The shops in Garachico, I think, had closed much earlier than that, but it is amazing how much "panic buying" is done here on January 5th - just as it is on December 24th in other parts of the world.
Canarias24Horas, again, have a report on the panic buying phenomenon and it is not just with gift buying. In the morning, we'd been in our local supermarket where there was a queue of customers and an obvious air of last minute buying to "stock up for a siege". That was Friday. The shop was going to be closed on Saturday, but reopen on the Sunday afternoon. You'd think it was going to be a month, not 36 hours!
Reading about the traditions of the Epiphany at Wikipedia, I had not realized that the ring-shaped bread or Roscón de Reyes (Crown of Kings) that we buy from the Pasteleria El Aderno in Buenavista del Norte, follows the Mexican format of containing a complete set of pottery figurines of the three magi, as well as the "unlucky bean", rather than the Spanish tradition of having just one. 
Something we made time to do this year, which we had not done before, was to follow something of the route of the many Nativity or Belén displays: these take many forms, but irrespective of their religious significance, they make wonderful viewing for any kid (of any age) who likes model villages - and we've plenty more nativity photos to come. Stamping on sandcastles ...
One curiosity amongst Canary Islands' nativities this year was that a group of 50 children were brought in to demolish the largest Nativity in Spain made of sand, on the beach of Las Canteras in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria.
Missed the fun? Never fear, there are only 347 days until next Christmas!
Images of the Christmas season in Tenerife
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
A new Queen coming for Christmas `07
As Arline and Sam Bleecker say in the Chicacgo Tribune, "We've barely finished savoring this year's Christmas goodies and already Cunard has a gift in the works for next year's yuletide season. Just in time for the holidays in December 2007, the venerable 167-year-old line will christen its newest monarch."
This Queen Victoria's first Christmas will be spent lolling in the sunshine of the Canary Islands and Morocco and ports along the Iberian Peninsula.
A new but smaller Queen coming for Christmas `07
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Twelfth Night masquerades live on in Tenerife
"The day of Epiphany is also called Three Kings Day in Mexico and Hispanic communities.", they tell us, as it is here also.
Tomorrow night, on the eve of Epiphany, two rather elderly "little girls" will be making their annual pilgrimage to see the Cabalgata of Los Reyes in Garachico. This event may be for kids, but it goes on until well after midnight, with lots of action, fireworks and fun. Plus, the three kings arrive here, as you can see, on real camels too!
La Tienda explain how this is celebrated in other parts of Spain, saying, "Three Kings Day, the sixth of January, is still alive and well in Spain. The local parades, the Magi, the happy children scrambling for caramelos - it is Epiphany, the culmination of the Christmas festivities, and it remains intact ? very traditional and very Spanish."
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
Labels: Christmas
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
El Gordo Made Millionaires in Tenerife
"El Gordo" the traditional Lotería de Navidad (Christmas Lottery) on December 22nd, was a little kinder to Tenerife this year than it was last year, by distributing a total of 12.1 million euros (in the region of £8 million), to lottery winners on the island. And, for once, the north of Tenerife saw most of that prize money.
In La Guancha, 9 million euros was shared amongst fifth prize winners, the first time that the whole of a winning fifth prize ticket's numbers had been sold in Tenerife.
Meanwhile, in nearby Icod de los Vinos, a family with tickets, purchased in Seville, bearing the first prize number, 20297, won them a reported €2,100,000.
Another million euros was shared out amongst 50 or 60 winning tickets of forth prizes and another 50,000 euros in fifth prizes, in Candelaria, Tenerife.
La Lotería de Navidad deja en Tenerife 12,1 millones de euros
Nueve millones de euros y parte de EL GORDO en Tenerife
El ’Gordo’ se reparte por media España y sólo pasa de puntillas por Canarias
La Lotería de Navidad deja un 'pico' en Gran Canaria y Tenerife
El Gordo de la Lotería de Navidad 2006, para el número 20297
Un ´Gordo´ madrugador, repetido y repartido
Spain gripped by El Gordo
Labels: Christmas
Los Reyes Came Early for one Tenerife Woman
Los Reyes (The Three Kings) don't bring the gifts until Epiphany here - Santa does bring a few on Christmas Eve now - but for one lucky shopper in Santa Cruz, they turned up early this year. Melania Martínez Olivares (29), made one very fortunate 20 euro purchase that turned into 6,000 euros (around £4,000), when she won the traditional Christmas draw, held amongst stores in Tenerife's capital.
The only "problem", was that she had to spend all that money in one ten hour mega shopping expedition, in one day. Just to make it a bit more complicated though, there was a limit of 150 euros that could be spent in any one of the 40 participating shops.
Starting prompt at 10:00 a.m. on December 21st, Ms Martínez, accompanied by two hostesses, enlisted her mother, brother and father to help. Dad got the job of ferrying the morning's parcels home while they took a break for lunch, before continuing into the afternoon's home stretch. The report says that they managed to spend the whole of the 6,000 euros just 15 minutes before the end of the "trial" at 8:00 p.m.
Having completed all of her gift shopping and indulged in her love of shoes, Ms Martínez says even she doesn't remember what she bought, so unwrapping gifts on January 6th will be as much of a surprise for her as it will be for the members of her family. And we all thought that shopping and spending money was easy! :)
Reyes adelantados
Labels: Christmas
Monday, December 25, 2006
Tenerife, 25°C for Christmas
Whilst it was fresh and chilly this morning, it is probably getting close to, well 20, if not 25C, even here on the north of the island today.
I'm pretty sure that will suit many people, including my mother who is snoring away on the patio, suitably overfed, even as I type! :)
Checking the webcam at the Canarian Astrophysics Institute observatory this afternoon (see still image, left), we can see that there was certainly no "White Christmas" in Tenerife this year.
There'll be no skiing on Teide today! OK, so the idea is merely a spoof! :)
However, the record remains unbroken, so far (fingers crossed and wood suitably touched) today for the eleventh consecutive Christmas Day (for which I have figures: even more from memory) on which it has never rained in Tenerife.
Best wishes for a very Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas - Joyeux Noël - Glückliches Weihnachten from a warm and sunny Christmas afternoon in Tenerife.
More webcams in Tenerife
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
Labels: Christmas
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Santa Claus Spotted in Icod de Los Vinos
Papá Noel, better known to English speakers as Father Christmas or Santa Claus, who is growing in popularity on these islands - and, some would say, competing with Los Reyes (The Three Kings) who arrive on January 6th - arrived in Icod de los Vinos, before going off to visit millions of homes around the world, with an impressive cavalcade that drew hundreds of spectators from all over the north of Tenerife. Santa's sleigh, pulled by his reindeer, was the finale of a procession that included more than 150 figures, among them; gnomes, elves, Disney characters and a Dixiland band.
Papá Noel desfiló en Icod ante cientos de personas
Labels: Christmas
Secret Christmas Recipes of Tenerife Nuns
Today, the nuns' hand-made Christmas delicacies are only sold to order, since there are not as many nuns as there were in the convent olden times to carry out the necessary work, but those who have tasted these delights certainly don't mind how much they cost, because they have the pure flavour of tradition.
The Santa Catalina nuns are experts in special foodstuffs for Christmas Eve.
An old document from 1767 recounts that the nuns dined on eggs and chocolate and, that on the following day, being Christmas, their menu was based on meat, a fig pudding, roscas de manteca (lard cakes) and mistela. (A type of wine made from a blend of grape must with wine alcohol.) In the past they made deserts, now disappeared, such as one based on rice with sugar, almonds and cinnamon.
The Mother Superior of the Santa Catalina convent, Sister María Cleofé López Lantigua, underlined that they continue to faithfully maintain the Christmas sweet making tradition. Although they used to make more sweets, production has been reduced, attending only to the orders from those persons who collaborate with the convent. This is because, she added, "there are very few nuns to do the work and, given the hours it takes, it isn't profitable." Though she doesn't reject the idea of opening a dulcería in the convent, teaching their culinary arts to youngsters via a workshop and school and, if the authorities don't apply heavy taxes, the money can be a benefit to the community and be used to restore the convent.
The current sweet and pastry maker in the Santa Catalina convent is Sister María Inés de León Domínguez, who is 71 years old. Sister Inés, who was born in La Orotava, learned the art from her grandmother, Remedios Méndez.
Sister Inés has lived in the La Laguna convent for 54 years, delighting many with her culinary magic and special flavours.
One of her principal specialities are rosquetes de vino, which are made with nutmeg, cinnamon, liqueur, flour, lard and salt. Then there are her galletas de leche (milk biscuits), formed with antique metal cutters in shapes of hearts, clubs and half moons, made with oil, butter, flour, milk and almond or coconut.
The mantecados (lard cakes), typical of the Christmas season, Sister Inés makes with lard, lemon, cinnamon, aniseed liqueur, flour, salt and ground almonds and, that are then decorated with a piece of crystallized fruit.
Her rosquetes de palo follow a very ancient recipe, with a paste made with oil, flour, lard and wine, to which is added water mixed with aniseed liqueur. She also makes truchas de batata (sweet potato pies) and tocinos de cielo (caramel puddings).
The star of the Santa Catalina nun's recipes though, is the tarta de almendra (almond tart), which has a crunchy exterior made with almond paste and, which opens to reveal a rich filling made with cabello de ángel (literally translated, this means angel hair and which is a type of pumpkin) and peach.
The Antique Recipe
Sister Inés says that all the sweets described contain a small secret that they guard and underlined that her oldest Christmas sweet, the recipe for which is revealed for the first time to EL DÍA, is the sopa borracha - literally: drunken soup.
This is not a liquid, as the name suggests. The recipe is one of the oldest existing and takes 8 hours to make. The day before, a syrup is made by boiling water, vanilla pods, cinnamon and aniseed. Half of this goes to make a paste by adding almonds. The next day, the delicacy is made with layers of bizcochos de lengua de gato (oval sponge cakes shaped like cats tongues) which are moistened with rum and aniseed liqueur, followed by a layer of the almond paste and continued, alternately, into the form of a cone. The whole is then thoroughly "sozzled" with the cited syrup.
Recetas de las catalinas
Labels: Christmas
Tenerife dreaming of a White Christmas
La Opinión report today, that, "Intense rains, low temperatures and snow, have turned many Spanish communities this Christmas Eve into authentic Christmas Card scenes." However, in the Canary Islands, while temperatures have dropped notably, by the end of the day yesterday, there was still no snow on Mount Teide.
La lluvia y la nieve obligan a mantener la alerta en cinco comunidades
Labels: Christmas
All we want for Christmas ...
In a moving note to the press written and signed by the 900 African immigrants currently being held at the Centro de Retención de Extranjeros de Las Raíces (Foreigners Retention Center at Las Raíces, Tenerife), they say:
"We are very tired. We want the Spanish people to know that we do not come to steal, we are not delinquents, we come to work. We ask that King Juan Carlos and President Zapatero grant us liberty as a Christmas present."
Los 900 internos de Las Raíces aseguran que vienen a España para trabajar, no para robar
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Britons on the Beach at Christmas
According to the Mirror, amongst lots of other fascinating figures about how Brits spend Christmas, "115,000 Britons will be spending Christmas on the beach this year, with Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote the top three destinations."
XMAS BY NUMBERS
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Canarian Folklore Christmas
Televisión Canaria, at 21:00 tonight are broadcasting a special of their Canarian folk program, La bodega de Julián, dedicated to Chirstmas themes, including carols, customs, fireworks and traditional dances of Canarian Christmas folklore.
The channel broadcasts on analogue throughout the Canary Islands and on TDT in the rest of Spain. TV Canaria also broadcasts two other channels, TV Canaria 2 and the international channel TVCi which broadcasts in North and South America.
Especial de ’La bodega de Julián’ dedicado a la Navidad
Labels: Christmas
Monday, December 18, 2006
Christmas Traveller
With the suggestive name of Navidad Viajera (Christmas Traveller) a Tenerife folk group are making a tour with a theatre and music show that brings together Christmas customs in the Canary Islands.
Performances are in Los Realejos, tomorrow, December 19th; in La Orotava on December 22nd; Puerto de la Cruz on December 23rd and will be present at the Misa de Gallo (Christmas Eve Mass) in the area of La Perdoma.
Navidad viajera de Higa
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Shopping in Tenerife
The forecast in La Laguna is good and, already many small shops have items reserved for Los Reyes (The Three Kings - who traditionally bring the gifts on January 6th), with the hope that sales will be higher than in 2005.
In Santa Cruz, meanwhile, stores are having to make do with volume only equal to last year's Christmas season and, shopkeepers are worried that sales will be low, with some claiming that the city is in a situation of crisis. Lack of parking or other modes of transport - a tourist shopping bus has been suggested - are amongst reasons why Christmas shoppers find Santa Cruz less convenient.
While in Santa Cruz though, look out for Papá Noel (Father Christmas) inviting shoppers into stores that are participating in a 6,000 euro Christmas Draw.
Los comerciantes de Santa Cruz temen que las ventas de Navidad sean bajas
Labels: Christmas
Friday, December 15, 2006
Nativity Recreates Historic Center of La Orotava
Whilst Gran Canaria may have The biggest traditional Nativity Scene in the Canaries - quite rightly observed that the Nativity Scene or Belén is still centre stage of Christmas displays in Spain, despite the fact that this is an increasingly secular country.
Meanwhile, La Orotava in the north of Tenerife has a Nativity display, housed in the central patio of the Municipal Library (pink building, above, right), inspired by the historic center of the town.
Some of the buildings in this singular scale model are exact replicas of those in La Orotava. One of the buildings represented is the Casa Ponte Fonte (a.k.a. the Casa Lercaro), the 16th and 17th century mansion that is considered by many to be the most representative building of traditional Canary Island style.
The model uses 29,500 tiny tejas (terracotta roof tiles) and natural stone is used to imitate the cobbled streets and patios. Also represented are traditional labours, such as basket making, needlework and street sellers - all down to the finest detail - with even hand made typical costumes on the close to one hundred tiny pottery figures.
The 40 meter square model is on view to the public until January 6th on all days, except December 24th and 31st, including Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 19:00, Saturdays 17:00 to 21:00, Sundays 11:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. On December 25th, January 1st and 6th, 17:00 to 21:00.
The Biblioteca Municipal (Municipal Library) can be found at the old Casino Orotava, right in the historic center, at number 3 in Calle Tomás Pérez: the street which runs down from the Town Hall towards the church of La Concepción.
BienMeSabe have some really lovely photos of the spectacular display with the following report: Espectacular Belén del conjunto histórico de La Orotava
Labels: Christmas
Friday, December 08, 2006
Follow the Route of the Canary Island Nativities
It's not as organized here as in other parts of Spain, but there's one shop in Tenerife, the "Bazar El Candado" in La Laguna, that sells articles for the nativity year round.
Many private individuals make amazingly detailed models in their homes and open up their doors to anyone who wishes to look round. There are also contests to choose the best nativities and various nativities, made for public institutions to put on display each year. In Santa Cruz this year, there is one at the Cabildo (Island Corporation) building and another in the Canary Islands Parliament.
However, one of the largest and most well known is at the CajaCanarias bank in Santa Cruz, which this year recreates the city in the 18th Century.
It has to be fun - both for adults and children alike - as the write-up says that, "As if by miracle of Christmas, the child Jesus will be born in the capital, Santa Cruz, this year, breathing island air." The model includes several hundred figures, as well as the buildings and live vegetation, plus lights and animation.
It's open to the public at the CajaCanarias headquarters in the Plaza del Patriotismo (bordered by the streets; Valentín Sanz, Ruiz de Padrón, Suárez Guerra, La Luna and La Rosa - see map) from December 1st until January 5th, from 11.30 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30, Monday to Saturday. !0.00 to 13.30 on Sundays.
There are other Nativity displays in most towns on the island and, if you are interested in finding one in your area, or following their route, here is a list.
This year also, the largest Nativity in Spain made of sand is being constructed on the beach of Las Canteras in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria. Artists from Spain, Russia, Czech Republic, Holland and the United States are using 250 tons of sand to create a work of art that will cover 700 square meters and represent various biblical scenes from the Annuciation to the Birth of Christ and the Three Kings.
CajaCanarias recrea la ciudad de Santa Cruz de Tenerife del S. XVIII
More about Nativity displays in Tenerife, links to nativity photos
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Miracle of Christmas in Tenerife
We all know the original miracle story, but the modern miracle is that it is otherwise difficult to imagine how people in the Canary Islands manage to spend an average of 858 euros (£578 / $1,143) at Christmas, given the average income on this islands.
In Tenerife's poorest area, Daute - which includes the areas of San Juan de la Rambla, Guia de Isora, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, El Tanque and Santiago del Teide - the average available monthly income per person is just 468.94 euros (£316 / $622).
The area is the second poorest in the Canary Islands: the dubious accolade of having the lowest average income going instead to the north west of La Palma, whose inhabitants have a mere 423.79 euros each, on which to subsist each month.
Even in Tenerife's richest area, Abona in the south east of the island, average monthly income only reaches 594.36 euros. Those with most money overall in the Canary Islands are in the south of Fuerteventura with 746.06 euros (£504 / $992).
There are three possible explanations that could account for this "miracle of accounting", apart from superb money management, stretching the cost of Christmas throughout the year, or borrowing heavily to cover the seasonal excesses.
One is "black money" that doesn't show up in official income figures and, this undoubtedly exists to some extent. Some of those in work may, legitimately, get 13 or 14 salary payments a year, one of the extras coming at Christmas. The other fact, common with the rest of the world is that the richest 2% own 'half the wealth'.
But, whichever way you cut it, making end meet with these general levels of income, at any time, but especially at Christmas, has to be a true miracle.
In other news, Buenavista town hall is opening a satellite office at the Teno Rural Park offices in El Palmar for residents in the higher areas of the district who have difficulty reaching the town center. It is only a couple of miles, so it would seem impossible that anyone could have this difficulty in the 21st Century, but mountain roads, lack of public transport and the severe lack of resources begins to explain why.
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Christmas decorations Tenerife style
Whist decorations are yet to go up in some smaller towns and those in homes are not traditionally put up until December 8th, the Immaculate Conception, Diario de Avisos report that the street lights are up in the capital, Santa Cruz, which seem to be these same blue and white ones - that's OK, I approve of them saving money - confirmed in this report. If you are just visiting, you will probably find it much more pleasant and convenient to go there by bus, as will become apparent.
This year Buenavista del Norte will be holding it's first Concurso de Escaparates (Christmas Window Dressing Contest) among the shops in the town. One of the changes in recent years here is that there are now enough, lively enough shops to hold such an event. When I first came over to this side of the island, Buenavista had merely a handful of dusty old establishments, generally devoid of customers.
Those will be on view from the beginning of December to January 7th, so hopefully, will provide me with a few photo opportunities as the season develops.
Meanwhile, here are some photos of more Christmas light decorated palms, Christmas decorations Tenerife style, colored lights in the Plaza de España and Santa on the streets of Tenerife amidst the cactus plants and tropical weather to wet your appetite for the aesthetic delights of the Christmas season, Tenerife stylee.
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Concerts in Tenerife
The most famous is the annual free, open-air Concierto de Navidad (Christmas Concert) given by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, in the evening on Christmas Day itself, in Santa Cruz. (+/- 9 p.m.) This is usually located in the Plaza de España, but since that area has been undergoing a complete reformation this year, it may be elsewhere nearby this year. It is a tradition that draws a crowd of thousands, is also normally televised and, is followed by a grand fireworks display.
In smaller towns, such as in Buenavista del Norte, the municipal band also puts on a free concert in the evening of Christmas Day, every year. This one is indoors in the cinema in the main street and, afterwards, just about everyone gathers in the square to chat, have coffee - still warm enough outside - and generally mingle.
Labels: Christmas
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Free Desktop Wallpapers : Christmas
Though the decorations in towns and villages will not be appearing for another month, you can have your Tenerife style Christmas decorations for your computer now with these three, exclusive and original Christmas Desktop Wallpaper images.
North Pole
This delightful and amusing tableaux in a half igloo shaped tent, complete with polar bears and husky dogs pulling Santa's sleigh, was seen on a garage forecourt in the north of Tenerife.
Arrival of the King
The much anticipated Parade of the Three Kings in towns and villages all over Spain and the Canary Islands. (Their schedule is only rivalled by a bloke in a red suit on December 24th.) Here's Rey Gaspar arriving in the town of Garachico. 
Flor de Pascua
The Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, is an essential part of Christmas in the Canary Islands and they grow wild, mostly on the northern slopes of the island.
All three, plus other Desktop Wallpapers can be downloaded here free
Labels: Christmas
Friday, October 13, 2006
Tenerife in December
Labels: Christmas
For more about Christmas in Tenerife, visit:
Canary Islands Christmas 2006 | Christmas in the Canary Islands | Santa's Tropical Grotto | Tenerife Christmas Images | Exclusive Tenerife Gifts ...
Lots of people are searching for Tenerife in December and, anyone planning a trip to the island then, most probably for Christmas, will want to know what the weather is going to be like. In the absence of a crystal ball to be able to give you the weather forecast for Christmas Day 2006 (sorry), I have done a little bit of digging into the historical weather conditions over the last ten years, on December 25th:
Tenerife South Weather: December 25th
Historical data, courtesy of Weather UndergroundTemperatures shown are centigrade: the maximum, presumably, at the hottest part of the day and the minimum looks to be the night-time reading.
Not much of a chill factor either in winds, all but once, well below 10 miles per hour and, the likelihood of rain ... Well, we won't tempt fate by outwardly saying it, but I think that the figure somewhat speaks for itself! :)
Add to this that sunset is around 6:15 p.m. - considerably later than it will be at that time of year further up the hemisphere - and that the length of the day is around 10 hours 20 minutes, with visible light for over 11 hours of the day, there is every reason to believe that you should find ideal conditions to beat the winter blues.
Not booked yet? What's keeping you? :) Winter 2006/7 Now on Sale!
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Canary Islands Christmas 2006
Here we are in Easter Week and already, visitors to this blog have shown that they are beginning to think of Christmas 2006 in the Canary Islands. Of course, one has to make travel plans in advance, so here are some ideas for you.
Christmas week is said to be the busiest week of the entire year for tourism in Tenerife. As Christmas Day 2006 will fall on a Monday, the busiest day for arrivals at the airport is likely to be the Friday, December 22nd, with a few more coming on Sunday, December 24th.
Read more of our posts and articles on Christmas in the Canary Islands.
Traditional Christmas, Only Warmer ... and Someone Else Cooks!
If what you want is a British-style Christmas - turkey and stuffing - with added sun, then you can have that. Many of the British bars in the resorts put on a Christmas Lunch. Better ones may require reservations, so make that a priority on the night you arrive. With satellite TV available almost everywhere, you can probably still catch the Queen's Speech too.
If, for a change, you want to catch the King of Spain's Christmas Message, first you'll need to understand Spanish, of course, but that is broadcast on Christmas Eve. If you follow the religious traditions, check out the church in Los Cristianos to see if they have a multilingual carol service on Christmas Eve, as they have been known to do in the past. It's fun.
Prices for Christmas week itself are at a premium, of course, but that is probably offset by the fact that you don't need to worry about Christmas food, gifts and decorations at home and, it's probably worth it just to have someone else cook the Christmas Dinner!
If you fall asleep on the beach after your Christmas Lunch, even at Christmas, prepare to be burnt crisper than an overdone turkey dinner. Toasted tourist isn't very tasty!
Escape the Traditional Christmas Dinner
If you want to escape the whole "traditional Christmas Dinner" thing, be warned that you may find restaurants outside of the resort areas closed on Christmas Day. This is not because the locals are celebrating, it's because they're resting from having done so the night before. Christmas Eve is a family gathering, Christmas Day is for recuperation.
Depending on the weather, many locals will head off up the mountain on Christmas Day. The 3,718 meter high Mount Teide, the dormant volcano at Tenerife's heart, does often get snowcapped for Christmas and is a beautiful sight to behold. As are the Christmas pine trees, seasonal red poinsettias and other natural "decorations" you'll see on the way.
The ideal conditions are enough snow to play in, but not too much to close the roads. You will need warm clothing, but wrap up, throw snowballs, forget the turkey and trimmings and snack on churros con chocolate and the odd lumumba (hot chocolate with brandy) for the non-drivers. Barbie a few prawns when you get back down to the warm coastal air.
New Year, New Clothes
If local street atmosphere is what you want, you would do better to wait until New Year, with probably an arrival date of Friday, December 29th. New Year's Eve sees pretty big street parties in most towns of any size. In Santa Cruz in the Plaza de España - and in 2006 the chimes will be televised from Tenerife - will likely be the location for the busiest party.
Similarly, the church square in Los Cristianos is usually rocking. Wherever the party, you'll need 12 grapes to eat along with the chimes. These will be followed by really superb fireworks displays and either a band or a disco until around dawn. New clothes are mandatory - this is another tradition to bring good luck - party hats optional.
Canary Islands Christmas, Like the Canarians Do
But, if you want to see local traditions and celebrate the season in the Canary Islands, as the Canarians do, then you need to be here on the evening of January 5th. That date in 2007, is a Friday, so depending on the times of flights, you may need to have arrived the week before on Friday, December 29th or on the Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007.
In either case, you may actually save money by waiting until after Christmas week itself, so this offers the best value, both in seeing something new and getting away from the January cold. Knowing what I know now, if I had to choose just one event out of the Christmas Season in the Canary Islands, I'd choose to be here for this celebration.
What you can expect to find are Los Reyes Magos - The Three Kings. This is when gifts are brought to children in the Canary Islands and is the biggest date of the entire winter holiday season, with parades through the streets in most towns, large and small. We have a full account of the parade, along with photos from Los Reyes 2006 in Garachico, so that you can get an idea of what is involved. It beats Santa in entertainment value any day!
And no, you don't need to bring or be a kid to enjoy it. Nobody's granny misses it, but you'll also find that the local teenagers attend, willingly, without losing their "street cred". :)
Of course, you can see any of this if you stay on the south of the island, where most of the tourist accommodation is. You only need to go to Los Cristianos for one of the biggest New Year's Eve parties or one of the most spectacular parades of The Three Kings.
Alternatively, choose to stay in Puerto de la Cruz. The weather may not be quite so warm as the south, but there will be all the authentic celebrations right in the town itself.
To really be in the thick of it, with ringside seats, so to speak, the pageant at the end of the Three Kings parade in Garachico is held in the very same square as the Hotel La Quinta Roja, a restored 16th Century mansion. Just a couple of streets around the corner and only a hundred or so years later in construction, is the Hotel San Roque. Having seen various Three Kings parades in different towns around Tenerife, Garachico's is still my favorite. Not too big, not to small, but with lots of atmosphere in glorious surroundings.
You can search for Christmas flights or holiday packages to Tenerife here.
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad Originally uploaded by uu974.
Here's something I certainly hadn't seen locally - maybe because I do not drink beer. It is a can, in the usual Dorada (from the Compañía Cervecería de Canarias) livery, complete with logo featuring Mount Teide and the Drago tree from Icod de los Viños, but saying Feliz Navidad (Happy Christmas) on the lable.
Labels: Christmas
January In Spain is balm for the soul
Don at Tienda.com says, "Ruth and I find that this time right after Christmas is a nice time to visit Spain. Leaving the throbbing marketplace of America and walking the cobblestone streets of Spain’s delightful traditional towns is balm for the soul. Christmas festivities in Spain span almost two weeks: Christmas Day is but the beginning of twelve days of family celebrations that climax with the arrival in Bethlehem of the Three Kings on January 6th." Labels: Christmas
After reading my account of the Three Kings Parades in the Canary Islands, I thought you might like to read his account of some others in Spain, even though, sadly, there was not a camel in sight.
Click here to subscribe to Tienda.com's monthly newsletter and explore their catalogue of scrumptious Spanish goodies.
Tags: Tenerife, Canarias
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Los Reyes Magos: Epiphany, Jan 6th
UPDATED: Cabalgata de Los Reyes Garachico 2006
The real high-spot of the holiday season in Spain and the Canary Islands is when the gifts arrive with Los Reyes Magos - The Three Kings - (this seems logical, if you follow the original story) on their camels.
In case you forgot the three are:
* Melchor: An old man with a white beard. His gift to Jesus is gold, representing his royalty.
* Gaspar: A swarthy skinned young man. His gift is incense, which represents Jesus' divinity.
* Baltasar: A black man. His gift to Jesus is myrrh, which represents his suffering and future death.
On the night of January 5th, you should put water and straw out for their camels and leave your shoes in a prominent place in a main room before you go to bed, next to which The Kings will leave your gifts - only if you've been good. If not, you may get coal instead!
(You can buy little sacks of black-dyed honeycomb candy for the little rogues in your family.)
In many towns there will be parades through the streets on the night of January 5, with the Three Wise Guys arriving from the Orient on their camels. They throw sweets into the crowd for the children of all ages.
In Santa Cruz these popular characters can fill the football stadium and I believe these modern monarchs have been known to arrive by helicopter. In ports, such as Los Cristianos, the last leg of their journey from the Orient is on one of the inter-island ferries.
Their Cabalgata in Garachico, Tenerife, was slated to begin at 7 p.m. (yes, but where the "caravan" began, on foot, way up in the mountains) and carried on until after midnight.
Accompanied by the whole town's youth, many dressed as Roman soldiers - carrying out their duties VERY seriously indeed - "Their Majesties" are received by Herod at the entrance to the town by the Castle, before making progress along the main streets & culminating in a Regal Pageant in the town square.
Fireworks crackled, drummers drummed (loudly), a fanfare resounded to announce the arrival of the cavalcade ... As horses and camels speed into the arena - real close between the seating laid out for the audience! (Guess who had an aisle seat?)
After a live reenactment of the entire Christmas Story, complete with real live donkey, goats, sheep, human baby ... the Kings address the crowd from the castle Town Hall balcony, then take their thrones to begin dishing out gifts to a long list of kids, not just from Garachico, but from all over the island and abroad.
Before that, the local children put on some sort of show and, just to make sure this doesn't become an entirely spoilt "commercial venture", a film reminds us all of less fortunate kids in Africa, Asia, South America and other parts of the world.
Us grownups were way too tired to hang around right to the very end of the line, but it's such fun and we go back every year!
For photos of the parades in Puerto de la Cruz, visit Reyesmagosweb and click on Cabalgatas
Traditional to eat on January 6, is Roscón de Reyes, a "crown" or ring-shaped bread, decorated with "jewels" of glacé fruits, which contains surprise gifts and a supposedly unlucky bean somewhere inside.
The year's second largest Lottery - this year with 700 million euros (817 M $) of prizes - El Niño, is also drawn on this day. This certainly creates a bit of excitement in the Canary Islands, because, historically, this draw has been more likely than the big Christmas Draw, El Gordo, to drop the odd decent prize on the islands.
With Los Reyes being on January 6th, it seems that Spanish Christmas holidays go on forever, but this is the Big Day when everyone will have time off to be with their family. Many in the tourist sector worked on Christmas Day.
Santa Claus, better known here as Papa Noel, is gaining popularity in Spain, appearing in the shops alongside Los Reyes Magos and he does now bring a few presents on Christmas Eve. The justification is that it gives the kids more time to enjoy their new toys whilst they still have school holidays to amuse themselves in.
The custom on the 6th is you get taken around to see what everyone got (with adults naturally feigning surprise all over the place), which is great because you get to play with everyone's toys!
These celebrations are similar to those held in Mexico: Making Merry in Mexico, Ya Vienen Los Reyes Magos
Now I must go and get some straw ...
Labels: Christmas
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Santa Takes a Winter Break in Tenerife
Our intrepid reporter caught up with the jolly old chap in a red suit on December 28, while he was taking a well-earned, post-Christmas holiday at a secret location in Tenerife.
Good old Santa (a.k.a. Papa Noel) has been gaining popularity in the Canary Islands in recent years and, like many millions of other Northern Europeans, Old Nick apparently likes to take a winter sunshine break after the busy season, to get some temporary relief from his rheumatism. 
(Look, if Santa can get right around the world in a single night, he certainly deserves a vacation!) But just HOW does Santa get to the Canaries if the airports are so busy at this time of year? As you can see, he enjoys the surf, but even he can hardly catch a wave all the way from the North Pole, can he?
Perhaps he rides down on the back of a whale? No, I think not really. He probably just went on a Whale and Dolphin Safari from Los Cristianos!
There are many places around the islands where Santa can learn to scuba-dive and see the paradise that lies beneath Canarian waters, but the idea of Submarine Santa travelling any distance ... Nah!
A boat, especially a speed-boat, would be a much more efficient option and Santa could park his at one of the many sports marinas. But trailing behind for about 3,875 miles - even if Santa is accustomed to very great speeds - still seems a bit much.
Aha! Perhaps Santa comes by camel, just as the Three Kings do? We'll ask at the Camel Centre in El Tanque if they've ever carried a sober tourist wearing a red suit and white beard, shall we?
How Santa Gets to The Canary Islands
Well, we asked Santa himself and discovered that, actually, it's none of the above - maybe you'll have guessed - and here's exclusive photographic evidence to prove how Santa gets to the Canaries.
Of course, he flies here on his sleigh, just as he does to get to any other location on the planet - as can clearly be seen in this photo taken on Santa's approach to the islands from the North West.
Gracious thanks to NASA (who probably don't use reindeer, camels or burros for propulsion) for the use of their photo. This story is best read on Dec 28.
While you are here, Visit Santa's Tropical Grotto
Labels: Christmas
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas Day - Día de Navidad
Many locals and tourists alike visit Mount Teide on Christmas Day - which is likely to be snow-capped at this time of year - that it is almost a ritual.
The trip - only an hour or so's drive - is a real "Christmas experience", passing through the Canary pine forests, seeing the vast number of wild poinsettias & other natural Christmas decorations en route.
You can just stay in the resort and have a "traditional Christmas dinner" at one of the many bars and restaurants catering to the mainly British trade, but it seems such a shame to do that, when you have all this natural, real Christmas stuff on the doorstep. 
As you can see from the still (taken from the Canarian Institute of Astrophysics webcam early on Christmas morning), there was a little snow in 2005.
Wrap up in a jacket, but if you get cold, call into one of the mountain's bars for churros con chocolate ... that's hot chocolate with sort of donut things.
Provided you are not the day's designated driver, you might also like to try a Lumumba, which is hot chocolate and brandy. Be warned though, this is pretty lethal stuff at high altitude.
Just an hour or so later, you could be back on the beach, enjoying the average 22-26º C (71-79º F) year-round temperatures.
Where else in the world can you do all of this on Christmas Day?
Christmas Lunch
Whilst you can get a traditional Christmas Dinner in the resorts, don't expect there to be a Christmas menu at the few Canarian restaurants you may find open. Many will close, except those in areas where they expect there to be any number of tourists. In homes, rabbit was the traditional fayre, a Canarian staple, but the quantity of turkey being sold in supermarkets has risen sharply in the last couple of years.
One year, before their commercial arrival, two turkeys were acquired, having been brought up in someone's mother's back yard. I'm not really keen on personally knowing my dinner in life and thought it apt, poetic justice when the chap who had been given the job of ... well, you know, presented his finger, all bandaged, after the unfortunate bird had put up a bit of resistance. But you really haven't tasted turkey until you have experienced this extremely fresh and free-range variety. :)
Labels: Christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Nochebuena: Christmas Eve
Detail of the Nativity at El PalmarThe main celebrations in Spain and the Canary Islands, as in many European countries, are on Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, when the family will get together to share an evening meal.
Food at Christmas revolves around the sweet stuff, with Truchas de Batata (sweet potato pies) and a mountain of fruit, nuts and sweets, especially polverones, turrones and mazapan.
For many years I've spent Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, in 'El Pueblo', Canarian style. The typical fayre, generally, is barbecued meat with boiled potatoes. Yams are usually eaten after the meal, sweetened with sugar or honey (palm honey is good too!).
If resources permit, a whole goat kid or suckling pig is preferable as tradition dictated that this meal should not be of fish. For many poor families here, Christmas Eve is one of the few celebration times when they will have any quantity of meat, so it is very simply prepared, quickly enjoyed and followed by the vast array of sweets.
Celebrations may go on quite late and the gathered family will probably start singing and playing Canarian Folk music. This isn't traditionally a time for the exchanging of gifts. That comes later, at Epiphany, or for the fortunate few, it might be both.
Long ago the meal was served after attending the Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass): the 24th being a day of fasting and abstinence, but that has tended to change these days. The mass, at which carols may be sung, being left out altogether by a large majority.
In Los Cristianos and other multi-nationally populated areas, there are usually carol services in a wonderful pot-purri of Spanish, English, German and Latin. In smaller villages, local children perform the Nativity (with often interesting and humorous interpretation). Folk groups provide the accompaniment.
One year at El Palmar, the dialogue went, roughly:
Joseph: (speaks to innkeeper) "Can we come in, only my wife isn't feeling too good."
Innkeeper: "Well, if she's ill she can't come in here. Take her to the health center!
I don't remember that being in the original version. It was truly unexpected and had everyone rolling in the isles at the Nativity in the little church.
This year the mass was more traditional, with a visiting priest from El Salvador, which was an opportunity to see another viewpoint. 
Carol singing, Villancicos
Selection of carols in Spanish and Latin http://www.navidaddigital.com/villancicos/
La Navidad Latina Carols, Christmas Music, Traditions, History, Recipes, Stories, Postcards and loads of kids' stuff. In Spanish, but you'll enjoy the music! http://www.navidadlatina.com
Labels: Christmas
Monday, December 19, 2005
Turrón de Chocolate (Chocolate Fudge)
This typical Christmas sweet is simple to make even for kids.
Ingredients for one bar of turrón:
250 grams of butter
250 grams of cake
100 grams (4 Oz) of almonds
100 grams (4 Oz) of walnuts
1 x 150 gram (6 Oz) tablet of chocolate
8 tablespoons of sugar
Method: Put the chocolate in a basin over a saucepan of hot water and leave it to melt. Work the butter with the sugar until you obtain a creamy consistency. Add the tepid chocolate to the cream with the crumbled cakes and mix the whole lot together well. Add the almonds and walnuts, well chopped. Turn the mixture into a rectangular mold, lined with greaseproof paper that has been spread with butter. Leave it to set in the fridge or a cool place for 24 hours before removing from the mold. (Waiting 24 hours is the hard part!) Cut into squares to serve.
On the other hand, if you are in the US and prefer to buy authentic turrón ready made, the fabulous Tienda.com have it in many popular flavours.
You're still in time to order now for Christmas delivery and they have Fresh Christmas Turrón! Their latest shipment of turrón candy was freshly made just weeks ago, guaranteeing the freshest, tastiest turrón possible.
Labels: Christmas
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Bethlehem in Tenerife
The most important Christmas symbol in Spain and the Canary Islands is the Nativity or Belén (Bethlehem), which in most homes, is arranged under the tree. Oh and this is a truly family affair: don't expect "historical accuracy" in homes. I've seen both Jedi and Barbie dolls attending the baby Jesus, along with shepherds and Magi!
Organized Nativity displays are something else. Town Halls and Associations produce massive works of art each year.
Not just stable scenes, but whole Holy model towns - often, inexplicably, depicting the Canarian location they're at - with working windmills, lights & everything! If you can get to see one in person, it's well worth the trip. If not, here is a sampling.
Belenes Paso a Paso (Beautiful photo galleries)
http://www.iespana.es/belenes/fotosmenu.htm
La Página Navideña - Belenes (Links)
http://www.navidaddigital.com/belenes/
Belenes hogareños (Nativity displays in homes)
http://www.navidaddigital.com/galeria/v/pesebres/
In Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, there are two famous Belén displays that are opened to the public each year. The first is in the Cultural Center of CajaCanarias at Plaza del Patriotismo, 1, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Open from December 2, 2005 until January 5, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on Saturdays. Source.
The other is organized by the Cultural department of Santa Cruz Town Hall and can be found in the exhibition hall (Aula Magna) of the Cultural Park, Parque Cultural Viera y Clavijo. This Belén can be visited from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. daily, from December 16, 2005 until January 6, 2006. Source.
The latter, made by José Fariña Bethencourt, covers 55 square meters and has more than 600 hand-made pieces, plus numerous lighting effects and movements, such as the breaking of dawn, nightfall, a storm with winds, thunder and lightening, the apparition of an angel, rivers and canals, the baby crying, etc.
Labels: Christmas
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Polvorones (Powder Cakes)
More indispensible sweet things for Christmas are Polvorones. (Spoil yourself, it's only once a year!) So, here's a simple recipe for making them. If you don't feel so inclined, La Tienda have polvorones ready made. They also have an alternative recipe in their current newsletter.
Ingredients:
500 grams (1 l.b.) of sugar
500 grams (1 l.b.) of lard
1 KG (2 lbs.) of flour
A good pinch of ground cinnamon
The grated rind of a green lemon
A good pinch of ground aniseed
Preparation:
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with the hands until it forms a paste. To make the polverones, take small handfuls of the mixture and make into small ovals, something like cookies. Place the polverones onto a baking tray, greased with butter or lard, and bake them in the oven until golden brown.
Labels: Christmas
Truchas de Batata (Sweet Potato Pies)
One of my, admittedly many, favorite sweet things of the Christmas season are these delicious little sweet potato pies. Since you may not have them available in the shops near you, here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
For the pastry:
3 tablespoons of lard
1 small glass of olive oil
500 grams (1 l.b.) flour.
For the filling:
500 grams (1 l.b.) sweet potatoes
250 grams (8 Oz) almonds
1 small cup of caster sugar
3 egg yolks
A teaspoon of aniseed
A dash of rum
A dash of aniseed liqueur
A teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Grated lemon rind
Oil for frying.
Preparation:
Filling: Boil the sweet potatoes in water with a little salt. When they are done, peel them, pound to a pulp and mix them with the almonds, flavourings and liqueurs.
Pastry: Mix together lard, oil and flour until a mass is formed and leave to rest for a short time. Cover a surface with flour and roll out the pastry until very thin. Cut out small rounds with a cup and put a small amount of filling into the centre of each. Close them by folding in half to make little semi-circular patties. Press down and seal with the aid of a fork. Fry in hot oil then sprinkle with sugar.
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Decorations in Tenerife
Personally, I like the, mostly, understated Christmas decorations that you will find on these islands at this time of year and, the typical juxtaposition of the avant garde with the strictly traditional Christmas images.
The month-long holiday season begins with two Fiestas in early December: Constitution Day on December 6 and the Immaculate Conception on December 8. It's tradition to put up Christmas decorations on the latter date.
This year, a lot of people locally seem to have waited until last weekend to put decorations up and, as a consequence, I have, as yet, only seen a few lights on houses down in the valley. Buenavista del Norte has it's Christmas lights in the street and their allocation of 1,000 poinsettia plants in place. Hopefully, we will get out and about and get some shots over the next few days.
The photo above shows a modern representation of a Christmas tree alongside a traditionally painted Nativity scene outside the Town Hall and the ex-Convent, respectively, in Garachico.
If you are looking for something really typical and traditional this Christmas, as a contrast - or relief - from all the techno gadets, we have a range of items based on a photo of that painting available.
Labels: Christmas
Tenerife Weather for Christmas
The sky over Tenerife on December 24, 2005
This is a question on surfers and visitors minds, because search terms you guys are currently using include; recent weather conditions in Tenerife or Tenerife weather at Christmas.
Sadly, lacking a crystal ball - yes, I am here on the island, but I am none the wiser - I have put together a number of links to online weather information for various points of Tenerife.
Please note that as of writing, when I checked, the 5-Day forecast from the BBC says that tomorrow, Sunday December 18 will be sunny. Both Weather.com and Intelicast's 10-Day provisions forecast rain for that day.
Well, I know which I like best. We trust the BBC. :-)
The BBC does not, yet, show the weather forecast for Christmas itself, however, both 10-Day forecasts do coincide that Christmas Eve will be sunny. Nothing is guaranteed with the weather, of course, but I think that the Tenerife storm in November (Delta) was something unlikely to be repeated in the near future.
(Fingers crossed!) However, you can check the latest weather here:
Links to Weather Forecasts For Tenerife
- Weather at San Juan de la Rambla
- Multimap.com - 5 day forecast from La Orotava
- Tenerife North Five Day Forecast from the BBC
- Tenerife South Five Day Forecast from the BBC
- Weather Satellite Images and Movies from IAC
- Playa de Las Américas updated every 10 minutes
- La Laguna Weather
- Weather Conditions at the Teide Observatory
- Tenerife Weather Annual Averages
- Historical weather for Tenerife
- Weather.com With 10 Day Forecast
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife Weather at Yahoo
- CNN Weather for Tenerife, Spain
- Intellicast 10 Day forecast for Tenerife
- Los Rodeos (North Airport in Spanish)
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Music in Tenerife
Those who would like to experience some of the traditional Christmas music on offer in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, can download a PDF program of this year's concerts & events from the website of CajaCanarias here.
Included are popular Christmas carols, Canarian folklore, music from Tenerife's Federation of bands, a lyrical concert of piano and voice and, Christmas stories for the kids. Dates, times, address in the digital pamphlet. Entrance free.
Labels: Christmas
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Tenerife Island Council to Provide 65,000 Poinsettia Plants to Town Halls
Tenerife Island Council is this year supplying 65,000 Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, plants to various town halls across the island in order to dress up parks and squares for the Christmas festivities. The plants have been specially cultivated in island nurseries and are distributed each year for the seasonal decorations.
Where can you see them displayed? Well, the plants are shared out according to the number of inhabitants in each district, so Santa Cruz get the largest number with 6,000 plants, with La Laguna (5,000) and Arona (4,000) second and third.
Locally, Icod de los Viños will be getting 2,000 poinsettia plants to adorn the town, while Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos and Garachico will recieve 1,000 each.
Hundreds more are given to various associations and centers providing social services, so the plants are bound to brighten someone's season.
El Cabildo de Tenerife reparte 65.000 flores de Pascua en ayuntamientos
Labels: Christmas
Friday, December 02, 2005
Stuff The Turkey, Come To Tenerife
According to Mirror.co.uk Britons "spend an average of £800 apiece during Christmas, according to experts. But for that kind of money your family can stuff the turkey and enjoy a great holiday instead."
Goodness, yes. You could buy a decent holiday, have a turkey dinner cooked for you, eat it somewhere warm and still have money left for presents.
They do include Lanzarote in the Canary Islands amongst their recommendations, but I would hasten to add that as nice as that island is (yes, I've been there once), Tenerife has far more to offer you Christmas-wise (from snow to beach and back again), so that you can have your turkey and eat it, so to speak.
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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
Turrón 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
Labels: Christmas
