Autumnal Tenerife - November's chestnut fairs

[Janet]

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Just as in the UK it's conker time, November in Tenerife is a cosy and wintry month with chestnuts roasting over live coals in the streets in a series of autumnal fairs in honour of San Andrés. HERE is a link to last year's post about them to give an idea of how we get a wonderful taste of autumn in the island of perpetual spring! San Andrés is, of course, the saint whose feast day, in Scotland, is on 30 November! Here in Tenerife, however, it's celebrated on the 29th, though the fairs often spill over into the 30th.

All these autumn fiestas and fairs are all different, and often involve different ways of making as much noise with metal objects as possible, or even racing downhill on kitchen trays, but however they're celebrated, they all involve wine and, particularly, chestnuts. Most of Tenerife's chestnuts come from the Acentejo region of the north, and the area always has a series of events to mark the period. This year's full programme from the north-east Tenerife chestnut association - involving the ayuntamientos of Santa Úrsula, La Victoria, La Matanza and Tacoronte - is HERE .

As last year's post will show, however, there are many events in south Tenerife too, and the first to announce this year is Arafo, whose Ruta de los Castañeros will start at 8.15pm with the bodega degustación trip detailed on the poster above. I'll update this post with other San Andrés events as I become aware of them. JA

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[Guanche]

Thanks Janet. This reminded of my last trip up the mountain a few weeks ago. The trees are full of Chestnuts this year and its been a while since we've seen so many. As we drove up the mountain we kept seeing men near to parked cars with hands in pockets just milling about. It wasn't until later it dawned on me that they were nicking the chestnuts off the trees. With the road being  the way it is a clear view of on coming traffic is impossible. So as soon as they heard a car approaching they stopped and watched us go by in case we were the police. I've seen them for €4 a kilo so not a bad money earner for a couple of hours work.

[Janet]

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Adeje has announced its own San Andrés event, with "Castañas, Vino ..y por supuesto buen folclore" in the rear plaza of the town's cultural centre on Thursday 27 November, at 7pm.  JA

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[Janet]

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San Miguel has announced its San Andrés event, 29 November from 7pm in Calle Constitución opposite the school. JA

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[Janet]

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Arona's San Andrés celebrations will be part of the municipality's Walk for Life programme, and will be held in Valle San Lorenzo on 28 November between 5 and 10pm. Tapas will also be available, and there are more details HERE about the establishments taking part. JA

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[Janet]

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Puerto de la Cruz' San Andrés celebration will be from 7pm this Friday, 28 November, in front of the customs house in the fishing harbour.


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[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

I've lived here for four years and this is the first I have heard of these chestnut fairs.  And apparently they're everywhere.

[Janet]

I've posted about them in previous years, but last year was perhaps the first time I'd collected them together and posted about "autumnal fairs".

[Janet]

It's really unfortunate, but many ayuntamientos have now cancelled or postponed all outdoor activities because of this weekend's weather alerts. Many if not all of these San Andrés events will not take place as advertised, and anyone planning to go is best advised to check locally as to whether the event is rescheduled, or even cancelled. JA