Every three years in the month of August, Barlovento honours the Virgin of the Rosary with a re-enactment of the Battle of Lepanto on the right side of the Pilón ravine. From mid-afternoon, the red banner with a crescent moon waves over the Muslim castle, while Turkish troops stand guard. (The castle actually is made […]
One of the biggest annual fiestas in La Palma is Corpus Christi in Mazo. Catholics all over the world celebrate Corpus Christi, but here they celebrate with the most wonderful archways and carpets decorated with petals, leaves and seeds.
On the last Sunday of August in even years, at the entrance of the festival dance in Fuencaliente, horses can be heard neighing and the band strikes up the Horses’ Polka. This is the start of the caballos fuscos parade. It consists of horses, made out of cane covered by coloured papers, ridden by smart […]
La Palma is full of crosses either along its numerous paths or on the hills. They are crossroads or they crown mountains. On La Palma, even crosses have their own celebration which is held on May 3rd when they are decorated by means of flowers and candles are lit in front of them. In their […]
Every five years, in June, July and August, Santa Cruz de la Palma celebrates the Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves, its most important celebration in honour of the Patron Saint of the island, the Virgen de Las Nieves. This celebration repeats the order given by the bishop Bartolomé García Ximénez in 1676 to […]
It’s not so that they take the obviously-heavy statues along the street. It’s the costumes. They remind me of the Klu Klux Klan. This is unfair, because the costumes concerned are far older than the KKK. They ensure anonymity, but in this case it’s not to avoid prosecution; apparently it’s to stop onlookers admiring your […]
On the Saturday closest to 13th June, San Antonio del Monte blesses the cattle of Garafía in a fair where both Palmeran and foreign cattle breeds compete, as do Pastor Garafiano, the local shepherds’ dog also a wide range of the different local cheeses. Goats, sheep, horses are also included in this fair. This celebration […]
In Tazacorte, in the end of September, and as part of the celebrations in honour of Saint Michael and to the music of the song “Vuela, vuela, palomita”, the Caballos Fufos parade takes place. Around 20 horses, made out of cane covered with tissue paper, dance through the streets, led by a giraffe.
On the night of September 8th, everybody is entertained while dancing in the verbena in Tijarafe and waiting impatiently in the La Candelaria square, next to the church, for the El Diablo (the Devil) to burst in. El Diablo arrives stealthily. Then he bursts in, blazing with fire and colour, music and much fun.
The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Theatre and Dance Festival has been held in this city on the Canary Islands since 1996. Theatre and dance companies from different parts of the world come together at this summer event to present their latest pieces.
