The carnival of carnivals
Santa Cruz’s Carnival is one of Europe’s most vibrant and colourful festivals. Every year proceedings aim to outstrip the efforts of the year before, so much so that in recent years up to 280,000 people – from all over the world and particularly South America – have been dancing in the streets at peak times during the celebrations. According to many people the carnivals are one of the most well-known features of Tenerife and the best after those of Rio de Janeiro.

Preparations begin weeks or even months in advance, but the festival itself properly begins a week before Ash Wednesday, with the election of the carnival queen. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is the oldest and most spectacular in Spain and one of the most outstanding in the world, which has led to it being, designated Feast of International Tourism Interest. Santa Cruz opens up to the clamorous arrival of the safest and most participatory carnival in the world. The carnivals current reputation rides on its extraordinary pre-Lenten activities, visitors from all around the globe flock to the town to partake in the cross-dressing event of the year. Though originally following the religious calendar, the event has now extended deep into Lent itself. Each night the Plaza de España and surrounding streets fill with revellers from around the island. The party is at its height from 11pm until dawn and is particularly well attended at weekends. Fancy dress is almost compulsory for all who attend, and many will dress in the annual theme, or as their opposite sex. The highlight of the week is the Grand Procession on Shrove Tuesday- a cavalcade of floats, bands, dancers and entertainers, who march and dance their way along the dockside road. Also popular is the ironically comical Entierro de la sardina (Burial of the Sardine) on Ash Wednesday, when the effigy of a ridiculously large sardine is burnt before an entourage of wailing widows. Many participants get into the spirit of the event by dressing in mourning clothes, traditionally the sardines cremation, followed by fireworks and a huge open air ball should signify the last day of the carnival, and the beginning of Lent, but this carnival now comes to its climatic end the following weekend – at which point smaller towns around the island often start their own carnivals. Whoever visits Tenerife during the month of February should not miss the vibrant and bustling celebrations and if possible join the crowd in fancy dress.

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