What happens at the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Once the queen has been elected, the parade announcing the start of the Carnival takes place on the Friday: thousands of people and dozens of musical groups fill the streets for hours in a breathtaking multi-coloured chain of merrymaking and devil-may-care joie de vivre.
Why is the Carnival of Tenerife celebrated?
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival | |
|---|---|
| Type | cultural |
| Significance | Celebration prior to fasting season of Lent. |
| Celebrations | Parade, parties, Queen selection, Piñata weekend |
| Begins | two weeks before Ash Wednesday (about 52 days to Easter) |
Why is Carnival in Spain celebrated?
Carnival celebrations, held before Lent, the period leading up to Easter. It has a religious origin and features traditions drawn from the pre-Christian festivals Bacanales and Saturnales of ancient Rome. The frenzy, the humor, the parodies and the jubilation invade the streets of the cities and towns of Spain.
When did Santa Cruz de Tenerife start?
Between the 1833 territorial division of Spain and 1927, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands, until 1927 when a decree ordered that the capital of the Canary Islands be shared, as it remains at present….
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | |
|---|---|
| Language | Spanish |
| Website | Official website |
How did Carnival in Spain start?
The origins of carnival date back many centuries. Over time, what began as a way of preparing for Lent became what we know today as carnival. In Spain, carnival usually begins with a pregón, an opening speech by an important local person or a celebrity.
Why is Carnaval important?
The whole purpose of it is to prepare your soul for Easter – which is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ – through prayer, doing penance, repentance of sins, and even fasting.