What are Tenerife festivals Romerias? Why use folklore gear and where to get it?

Welcome to Tenerife festivals... The heart warming smiles given to the Tenerife holiday home insider are typical for the people of the island. 
 

Why the Tenerife Holiday home Insider calls Romerias Festivals

In fact, most English speaking tourists (this includes Germans) didn't even know what a Playa (beach) is, as was discovered in 2017.  This is shocking, indeed. How expect them to know what Romerias are? Hence, better call them festivals to help to be found online.

What about such festivals?

Romerias are the best, not withstanding the fact that some performers or by-standers have taken a fair share of Vino before everything even started. However, everybody's joy and fun is more than remarkable.

During most of these festivals,  window and balcony decorations are part of the celebrations. Rugs and fabric banners are hung on them. But that's not all.

You discover earthen ware pots, metal containers, Gofio wheels, baskets, cooking utensils, you name it. Casa de los Balcones Orotava is the champion decorator, as seen above.

Romerias for pilgrims?

Indeed, some municipalities take the religious part of the Romeria more seriously.

You may notice this in Los Realejos a neighbor of la Orotava.

By the way, there you also see enchanting horse scenes during its parade that is part of important May festivals.

Also, you discover that a Romeria even has a queen and princesses.

The history of Romeria festivals

Romerias are a mixture of Guanche and Pegan Tenerife traditions. Often, they seem to have little in common with the Latin term pilgrimage where the name comes from. 

Most probably, they also date back to ancient Celtic rituals from Mainland Spain.

Look at the small wagon with 2 oxen. It's a tiny one.

You see a young woman approaching one of the beasts. She was not shy during this Tenerife Romeria of Realejo Alto that has now become a rather important tourist event.

Traces of Romeria celebration music and musical instruments prove the touch of Guanche influence in them. The rhythmic clapping of the Chacas give that rather exotic impression most. Usually, they are used by the women.

A bit of Cuban and Puerto Rican also adds its touch. Understand this better by reading up on the Tenerife history Santa Cruz capital and island.
Besides, this is said clearly on a CD, I have of the most famous Tenderete folk music band, Los Sabandenos. Tenderete music is part of Tenerife festivals, when they are Romeria Fiestas.

When surroundings match a street festival

You see a true cinema stage-set, almost a Hollywood film stage with the next picture, if I may say so. Isn't it great when everything is in such fantastic harmony? Such a great match? 

Romeria Realejos

One Tenerife Romeria Los Realejos is called Romeria Chica. Its date is 15th of May and the other's is last Sunday in May.
Festival Romeria Chica is for the locals. The alternative is for tourists.

The parades during Los Realejos Romerias go up and down the higher part called Realejos Alto. Especially hard on the oxen that must pull heavy carts, such as festival floats...

Tractors were used in some previous years. They spoil the show. However, extra men who walk beside to guide the beautifully decorated animals or to help push may be needed. 

Lucky cows, lucky oxen

Why?
 
There are two that you see. They have a job and are hired out to all harvest festivals. It spares them the premature fate of other beast.

The Realejos man with a real pig's head drew much attention of amazed disbelief.

Which buses go to the Romerias Realejos and Orotava?

Titsa Linea 390 takes you from Puerto de la Cruz to outside the Policia Nacional Calle Los Remedios Los Realejos Alto

Titsa Linea 353 from Puerto de la Cruz takes you to San Antonio Orotava where the June Romeria starts. Alternatively, use any bus from Puerto de la Cruz to the Orotava bus station.

Tenerife news 2012 Romeria Puerto de la Cruz

By the way, Puerto de la Cruz the former Orotava port does not have its own Romeria. Nor does the capital Santa Cruz of Tenerife...

However, mind the new Romeria compromise by Puerto de la Cruz as follows:

Romeria de los Esperanceros

• Date and time: October 06 at 5.30 p.m.
• Where: From Peñon del Fraile in C/ San Felipe by the Muelle car park turn-off until Church Iglesia de Peña Francia by C/ Quintana in the Puerto de la Cruz hub.

Where best see La Orotava Romeria?

Watch the Romeria Orotava of Tenerife festivals on the level road by the bridge, at the main town square or anywhere by the main road La Carretera. It's one of best Tenerife festivals to celebrate harvests. About € 2 buy you a seat, there.

The merry go around at Romeria festivals

There is no monotony, as there is always action, until the next float appears. Tinerfeños of any age create it. There is much jumping, singing and clapping of Chacas. Often dancers move in circles. You see each and every Tenderete instrument played by the folk musicians that follow suite.

A festival that feeds the very hungry

Fetch local red wine, served out of barrels attached to floats. Believe me, the wine flows merrily... Gather free food, such as meat, Papas Arrugadas, Guanche Gofio, white bread, in short the traditional Tenerife cuisine on the go. It's prepared on attached grills in the rear of Romeria wagons. Not always easy when the vehicles move... Mind this is rather a gesture. It wouldn't feed a town.

Ancient Guanche traditions with free food

Those were the Chaxiraxi Beñesmer festivals for sports competitions and dance. Then, some of the bounty of the harvest of the earth was shared with all. 

Synchronized for the traditional

I saw a mother with a pram during such Tenerife festivals. She had it covered with sack cloth. Even small children are often dressed in typical Romeria outfit. Looking the part is very important during festivities of Romerias, anywhere on the island.

How have most fun during Tenerife festivals of harvest?

Wear a custom Romeria outfit. Consequently, the warm friendly people will welcome you with open arms. You can even take part in the street dance.

Festival decorations of the vehicles

All are extremely colorful both for Romerias and Carnival.

Palm leaves often cover the tops of Romeria floats, wagons or carts. There, all sorts of rustic country utensils from cookware to agricultural tools trail from them. Dried melons, grains, garlic, onions, peppers, lemons, oranges, bananas, pumpkins, cabbages and more hang on the wagons. Some produce is in baskets. 

Also flowers add their touch.

Romeria outfits for hire for Tenerife festivals

Romeria clothes cost about as much or more as those for a first Communion. Expect an expense of about €150 by 2019. Even shops like Tienda 99 or Herreros with their Tenerife folk dresses made in China are not cheap. Leading in traditional folk dress quality in the North is Artesania Islas Canarias. They also sell superb custom made folk shoes and ankle boots. The Puerto de la Cruz alternative is at Asociación Cultural Los Fayfes in C/ Teobaldo Power 26, (near Plaza Charco) Tel: 922 388219 or 699139720

All towns have a slightly different Romeria dress code. At least as far as schools are concerned. Different guilds are supposed to follow their own rules. The costume of a judge is real smart with expensive materials. Those that belong to the fisherman guild look humble. They often wear mainly brown and black.

Artesania Islas Canarias S.L. Realejos to buy or to hire traditional folk costumes for Tenerife festivals

You need to speak Spanish to learn the details at this outlet . The cost of renting folk clothes at Artesania?  About € 20 which includes a total outfit except footwear. The price may be subject to change.

This seems to be the most important shop in 2019 that offers folk dress rental in Tenerife. Find its exhibition shop in C/Los Remedios 17. Tel: 922 353258. Rental of folklore clothes and gear: Tel: 648 701350. I read in August 2019 on the FB page of this important crafts shop of Realejos that an outlet at Arafo also lets you hire its traditional costumes. I don't know if there's much of a choice at Arafo.

About the Tenerife festivals Romeria and similar celebrations

The Romeria San Isodro Labrador or Agricula is the main festival of La Orotava besides Corpus Christi.
Labrador which means laborer stand for all workers, especially, farm workers.
La Orotava Romeria Labrador was introduced at the beginning of June in XVII. It always takes place by the middle of June. By the way, I just learned in an official website of La Orotava that the first Romeria San Isidro Labrador and Santa Maria de la Cabeza took place in 1936. Romerias are always preceded by church processions for saints, for example. Sometimes, breath taking folk dance begins by church door steps.

Where does the Romeria Isidro Abad of Orotava start?

The one of end of June of La Orotava starts very close to the old quarters at the San Antonio traffic circle at the TF324 and at Cruz del Teide.

Short video clips related to the Orotava Tenerife festivals

The following video scenes by the Tenerife holiday home insider are typical for the Orotava Romeria or for such  festivals in general.

A couple of folk musicians beat the drums with a typical ancient sound and are followed by a float that's drawn by cattle

Bread for the people carried by women like hundreds of years ago

Folklore happiness by locals that's contagious

The statue of the Saint San Isidro Labrador is fetched on the eve before the event at Iglesia del Calvario and is parked off to watch the Romeria after the procession at Casa de los Balcones, as can be seen in the following video clip.

Yearly Agatha Christie Festivals Puerto Cruz

2015 from November 09 to 15 with agenda at www.citpuerto.com

Mind a memorable one of June 5 - June 15, 2009 when Agatha Christie's Orly grandson Mathew Prichard and wife were special guests.

The long lost and found Agatha Christie note books and  tapes by expert Mr John Curran were not the only additional high light of the event. Amusement for children followed. By the looks of it, the celebrations for Agatha Christie who has been a town daughter of Puerto Cruz since the  1920ies will remain one of best Tenerife festivals in many years to come.  She was part of prominent people at the Taoro Hotel in the Puerto Cruz Taoro Park.  Unfortunately, only the old church Ermita San Amaro remains of the area in La Paz which featured in her thriller The man from the sea. A bust of the British writer is on the restored square opposite the Ermita.

More about events in honor of the famous British fan of Puerto de la Cruz, the theater companies and all its festival events at Tel: 34 + 922 388777

Two unusual Tenerife festivals of Romerias

• Festival  on August 14 and 15 of the legendary Black Virgin of Candelaria
  
• Romeria San Roque of Garachico
  Date: August 16, 2012
  Time: Mass Church Santa Ana 1.00 p.m.
  Romeria street procession from 2.30.pm. which is
  followed by an ocean Romeria by Garachico fishermen.
  

This traditional pilgrimage of San Roques is another important festival of Tenerife North. Floats there are sometimes small but very creative. This town knows how to party, perhaps because of more hardship than any other place on the island had to endure in the past. There,  San Roque is now patron and honored by pilgrims, as he is said to have freed the town from the Black Plague.

An extra bonus are Goarachico's extremely picturesque old quarters. An ideal background for folklore with all its facets. Discover why the Trevejo  volcanic attack of 1706 did not destroy Garachico entirely but was one of most terrible disasters of its time

Other Tenerife festivals

The new and free international Arona day time Music Festival RNA of the LGTBIQ scene from June 5th to June 11th 2017 is expected to become an annual event.

Tenerife festivals Romeria Orotava are followed by the top Puerto de la Cruz summer celebrations together with the Octava del Carmen of Realejos

Learn about Tenerife carnival where Magos feature, a group of whom also takes part.

By the way, folk dance as part of Tenerife folklore is always an element of Romeria festivals in the Orotava, Puerto Cruz and the Realejos regions.

Also, admire a past event of El Medano folk dance festival where Tenerife folklore by several of its island regions is portrayed very well.

Tenerife White nights or Full Moon festivals

Halloween

Spooky traditions

Easter Week event

Tenerife South Semana Santa live show

Tenerife May festivals with a link to the most amazing Cross and Fuegos festival in Realejos

A yearly Festival of contemporary modern music at Teatro Guimera in January in the Tenerife capital since 1997 

From Tenerife festivals back to Tenerife attractions

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