JANIRE ZURBANO ARRESE

Carnival is coming and many people wish they were in Rio de Janeiro dancing to the sounds of samba or hidden behind a mask in Venice. But many of those lovers who have these days noted on the agenda don’t know that Canary Islands also dress up as Carnival, particularly Tenerife.

 

In addition to endless beaches, stunning sunsets and amazing view to Teide, Tenerife becomes the life of the party at the end of February. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the most popular festival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the most participatory of all those held in the Canary Islands. In 1980, holds the distinction of being officially declared “Fiesta of International Tourist Interest”, and since 1987, it’s part of The Guiness Book of Records for the largest people’s participation (more than 200 thousand people) at a dance held in open place.

 

This year, Carnival starts February 26th with the opening ceremony and ends March 2nd with the traditional Burial of the Sardine. In the meantime, five days full of spectacles, galas to elect the Carnival Queens, children’s and adult murgas (satirical street bands), comparsas (dance groups) and ensemble competitions and festivals, lyrical groups contests and orchestras and carnival groups performances on the streets. The main activities are as follows::

 

   THE CARNIVAL QUEENS                                                                                                                 

 

The ceremony to elect the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen is the highlight of the Carnival. Journalists from all over the world come to Tenerife in order to broadcast the event worldwide.

 

Besides, senior citizens also elect their Queen. The Senior Ensembles Festival is held at the ceremony to elect the Senior Queen, where about ten enthusiastic musical ensembles delight the audience.

 

Moreover, the Queen of the children is chosen in a show where street musicians, parades, children’s choreographic groups and artists participate..

 

   GROUPS                                                                                                                                                       

 

The inhabitants of Tenerife prepare their Carnival, declared “Fiesta of International Tourist Interest”, all year round. Its murgas, lyrical groups and comparsas have permanent rehearsal studios to get prepared for the festivities. In this way, electricians, bakers, professors, housewives or lawyers leave their daily chores apart to attend the rehearsals of every group, to practice the lyrics and music they will play on the streets or on the stages of the different contests during Carnival.

 

   PARADE AND COSO                                                                                                                         

 

The Announcement Parade is a gigantic multi-coloured serpentine pageant, made up by thousands of masks and musical ensembles, marching for hours along the main streets of the city. Floats, music, spectators and costumes march slowly along the city announcing what is to come in Carnival.

 

The Coso (parade) is the culmination of the Tenerife Carnival. This is the end of the party, an avalanche full of colour, rhythm and merriment that, for hours, marches along the seafront avenue of the city, with the participation of floats, musical ensembles and the Carnival Queen and her royal entourage.

 

   BURIAL OF THE SARDINE                                                                                                          

 

When Carnival is almost finished, people from Tenerife say goodbye to it weeping. The Burial of the Sardine is the most irreverent and uninhibited event of the Carnival. It announces the end of the libertine party with a humorous and bizarre parade of weeping widows and typical elements of a mocking funeral, which ends with the purifying fire to make amends for the excesses and give way to Lent.

 

This is just an appetizer of what the island offers to all those travellers who visit Tenerife in this time of the year. So take your best customs out because March 2014 represents a new celebration of rhythm, colour and the unique flavour of a festivity born in the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. We invite you to venture into these first-hand experiences since Tenerife welcomes with open arms all those Carnival lovers who join the celebration.

 

 

 

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