The annual programme of fiestas play a central part in the cultural calendar of
both mainland Spain and the Canary Islands.
In Teguise the first event notable event of the year is always their annual
carnival which takes places around 1st March. Central to this event, along with
the parades and street musicians, is a rather bizarre tradition called the
"Danza de los Diabletes", which roughly translates into English as the Dance of
the Little Devils.
This is one of the oldest traditions on the island, and its origins can be
traced back well over 500 years to the superstitious practices and beliefs of
the first Moorish and African slaves to arrive on Lanzarote.
The next event, although primarily a religious celebration, is known as the Day
of The Cross and takes place around May 3rd. This is one of the most deeply
rooted traditions throughout all of Canaries, and which sees crosses throughout
the island being decorated with flowers.
The fiesta of Corpus Christi usually takes place during the first week of June
each year, although on occasions, and in keeping with Spanish traditions, it has
also been known to be celebrated during the last week of May.
A central feature of the annual Corpus Christi Procession is that the streets
are always covered, and whilst on the neighbouring islands of Tenerife and Las
Palmas this covering is made up of thousands of fresh flowers, Lanzarote however
adopt a quite different approach.
In the days leading up to Corpus Christi, hundreds of tons of salt are
transported into Teguise from the salt beds around the island. This is then
mixed with coloured dyes to create magnificent displays for the morning of the
parade. Sadly these displays are very short lived, as the local council then
removes all traces of the salt within hours of the parade finishing.
Visitors to Lanzarote towards the end of June are often surprised to find that
the Fiesta of San Juan bears a remarkable similarity to Guy Fawkes night, which
is widely celebrated almost 5 months later back home in the UK.
However in Lanzarote it is on the night between the 23rd - 24th June each year
that effigies of a figure known as "El Facundo" are ceremoniously burnt on
bonfires throughout the island. As part of the celebrations young men
demonstrate their bravery, or stupidity, by either jumping over the flames or
attempting to walk barefoot across the embers of the fire.
Another less popular tradition relating to the Fiesta San Juan is that of the
‘first bathe’, for prior to this day it was always considered bad luck for the
locals to bathe in the sea.
The following month one of Teguise's most popular events takes place around July
16th with the celebration of “Nuestra Senora del Carmen”. Central to this
celebration is always a colourful maritime procession, during which offerings
are made to the Virgin.
The 5th August each year as part of the festivities of the Virgin of Las Nieves,
a pilgrimage from Teguise to the Hermitage of Las Nieves takes place accompanied
by floats and a small number of folk groups.
The final celebration of the year is again a strictly religious one that dates
back to 1580, although in all fairness it is unlikely to have a great appeal to
many of the visitors to Costa Teguise. This event is the “Misa del Gallo” or
midnight service taking place at the local church on the night of December 24th.