Día de Canarias, Canarian Day

[Janet]

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Photo: Adeje Ayuntamiento.

Next Monday, 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. Apart from the formal and official events that are always held, with many shops and offices closed, the day is celebrated throughout the islands with a wide range of cultural events and festivities, not just on Monday, but over the weekend from this coming Friday. Most, moreover, will have a Baile de Magos at some point.

The Baile de Magos is a traditional costume dance which is 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 says 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".

Bethencourt makes an important point because with its traditional costumes and family groups clustered together, the Baile de Magos could seem to be "reserved" in some way for Canarians. But these events do anything but exclude, and "foreigners" are 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.

This is the last island-wide bank holiday now until 15 August, though there will be some mid-summer municipal bank holidays throughout the summer; there's a link to them all - municipal, insular and regional - HERE.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

And if that is not enough, it's my dog's 9th birthday! 

Zebulon being cute:

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[Anne 2009]

Hoping to see some of the celebrations today, and hopefully get a few photos   

[Michael]

Aha! The penny has dropped!

I noticed that a stage was being built on the sea-front plaza in Puerto Santiago yesterday.

That might be worth a nosey later. 

[Janet]

con fotos, porfa ... 

[Michael]

con fotos, porfa ... 

I'll try. Such a pity my GoPro isn't here yet. 

[Nova]

Such a pity my GoPro isn't here yet. 

From Amazon deliveries usually take between one and two weeks to arrive, whether UK or ES.

[Michael]

From Amazon deliveries usually take between one and two weeks to arrive, whether UK or ES.

Amazon tracking says the 6th. The mount is coming from the US.

[Michael]

con fotos, porfa ... 

Looks promising. Quite a few little craft stalls as well. And i'm reliably informed that the music is Canarian, not modern crap. 

[NAH]

Looks promising. Quite a few little craft stalls as well. And i'm reliably informed that the music is Canarian, not modern crap. 

It could be modern Canarian crap