|
When you book into Tenerife hotels during February, it is likely that you will have a holiday you will never forget. This is because the month is largely taken up by the Carnival of Santa Cruz - an event that for many is second only to the carnival that takes place every year in Rio de Janeiro. Indeed, the events held on the Canary Island are so popular that Santa Cruz is twinned with the Brazilian city as a symbol of how world-renowned its own carnival is and it also attracts thousands of visitors every year looking to take part in the festivities. Tenerife is known as something of a party island and is a firm favourite with travellers the world over, but it is unlikely anything will prepare you for the sheer scale of its annual carnival. The festival kicks off with a spectacular opening parade, during which dancers and revellers flood the streets wearing fancy dress and dance until the sun rises. This is just the start, however, and if you are staying in hotels in the town during the carnival you would be advised to go prepared for noise and music filling the air until the sun rises. Indeed, once the sun comes up following the opening parade, the day is officially given over to dancing and even if you do not feel confident enough to take part yourself, you are sure to enjoy the wide variety of exotic costumes and dazzling sequins you see as experienced dancers show off a variety of different routines. This Saturday of Carnival stretches until the Monday and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants are also likely to join with other venues across the city to put on special events so make sure you keep your eyes open for anything really exciting that has not been widely advertised. For example, some of the world's most famous DJs are known to make an appearance during the course of the event and you could be in with a chance to hear their sets while watching the entertainment going on around you. The Monday of Carnival is likely to be a high point for music fans, while it is also known as a day of feasting and so could be a good excuse to head off and find some local cuisine you may never have tried before. Shrove Tuesday marks the festival's climax, as the streets are filled once again with floats, while some locals even decorate their cars and people fill the roads and pavements with dancing, costumes and music. The whole event winds down on Ash Wednesday with the entierro de la sardina, or burial of the sardine, where an ornate effigy of the fish is burnt while fireworks are let off above, to mark the end of the festivities and the start of normal day-to-day tasks again. It is believed that the ceremony symbolises something similar to the harvest in the UK and it is known to date back many hundreds of years. However, do not be too sad as just one week later the revellery all begins again for Pinata. Along with several competitions, participants once again dig out the fancy dress as towns across Tenerife come together to party one last time. So, for a taste of Rio that's closer to home, make sure you're part of the next Carnival of Santa Cruz.
Related Articles -
Hotels, hotels in Spain, Tenerife hotels,
| 
