30 May is Día de Canarias, Canarian Day

[Janet]

[attachimg=1]

Friday, 30 May is Día de Canarias, Canarian Day, a Canaries-wide public holiday in celebration of the anniversary of the first official Parliamentary session of the islands on 30 May 1983, some 10 months after the Canaries became an autonomous region of Spain in August 1982. The day is celebrated on all the islands with a wide range of cultural events and festivities, and shops and offices are generally closed.

Apart from the formal and official events that are always held, regions around Tenerife and the other islands will be holding directly connected or associated events, not just on Friday 30th, but through the weekend. and I'll list them here as I come across them. I'll start with San Miguel's Canarian Day programme which can be downloaded HERE, and on Saturday 31, Arona is holding a Canarian Traditions Day, programme HERE. Please see my website for live links: JA

[Nova]

Friday not Wednesday 

[Janet]

 

**** ... cut and paste of last year's text ... 

[Janet]

Guía de Isora's Canarian Day celebrations will be based in Alcalá's main square, the Plaza del Llano, from 10am, and will include the artisan fair I posted HERE, together with dance, music, food ... and dance, music and food will also form a large part of Granadilla's celebration, with the Sensaciones fair in Granadilla's Plaza González Mena (link).

[Janet]

Adeje's Día de Canarias celebrations will take place over a few days, including the Baile de Magos (traditional costume dance) in the Plaza España on Thursday 29 May, the eve of the Día de Canarias itself. It starts at 9pm, as does the Imoque Folklore Festival in the Plaza de San Sebastián in La Caleta on Saturday 31 May. It's important to note, I think, that these celebrations are not just of a particular date or a specific political anniversary. They are a celebration of all that is Canarian, and Clio O'Flynn gives a good overview of the cultural importance of the day in the Adeje English Time blog HERE.

Adeje's councillor for culture Nayra Medina Bethencourt said that in a multi-cultural town such as Adeje "it's also important to remember our roots and traditions and on dates such as the ones we're celebrating this week we can emphasise the Canarian part of our heritage and show that side of our culture to those who have recently arrived to live here, so that they too may know some of our traditions but also, importantly become involved in the cultural life of Adeje and share the fiestas with us".

The councillor makes an important point because with its traditional costumes, the Baile de Magos could seem to be "reserved" in some way, for Canarians. But these events are anything but, and "foreigners" are more than welcome to join in, indeed would be welcomed with open arms since our participation demonstrates a desire to integrate. The dance is free, but those taking part must wear traditional Canarian costumes as in the photo above. Tables can be reserved for the dinner part of the dance, but attendees are expected to take their own food. To reserve a place phone Adeje's culture  department of culture on 922 756 246, by Wednesday. but do note that you can just go for the dance provided you wear traditional dress of some description.

Among the folklore groups taking part are Igonce from Candelaria, Añate from La Victoria, La Díata, La Asociación Cultural Imoque, Las Parrandas Mesturao, Boleros de Armeñime and Boca del Paso, Santa Anta, and, of course, the Adeje Folklore Group. Clio O'Flynn of Adeje English Times says not to worry if you don't know the traditional dances because people will delighted to show you!

In La Caleta on the 31st, the Imoque Folklore Festival will take place in the Plaza San Sebastián with performances by a number of cultural associations including Arboneo and Miradero from Icod, the Tetir Folklore group from Fuerteventura with the special participation of Domingo Rodríguez Oramas "El Colorao". This event is jointly organized by Adeje Ayuntamiento and the Adeje Imoque Cultural Group.

[Janet]

Santiago del Teide will be holding a Baile de Magos at 9pm this evening in the plaza de Puerto Santiago. Tomorrow, the Día de Canarias itself, the same plaza will host a market, thematic workshops, autochthonous sports, folklore and dessert competition, all between 9am and 2pm.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

There's been a kiddie festival taking place across the street all morning.  All the little ones and the supervisors are in traditional dress playing such traditional games as blind man's bluff, statues, and try not to poke anybody's eye out with a stick.  The music has been blaring since 08.00.  People are double parked in the street.  A very successful event by the look of things.