Many people think that if the carnival of Rio de Janeiro did not exist, the one of Santa Cruz de Tenerife would be the biggest, most important, crazy and colourful of the world. So much so that both cities are twinned thanks to this festival. Its tradition comes from far away when at the gates of Christian Lent people would have a good time breaking the moral canons and good manners of the time. During Franco's dictatorship, a small trick had to be used to keep it going. Then, carnivals were banned because of their pagan and extravagant nature, so they were renamed Winter Festivals and continued to be celebrated as they were.
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Many people think that if the carnival of Rio de Janeiro did not exist, the one of Santa Cruz de Tenerife would be the biggest, most important, crazy and colourful of the world. So much so that both cities are twinned thanks to this festival. Its tradition comes from far away when at the gates of Christian Lent people would have a good time breaking the moral canons and good manners of the time. During Franco's dictatorship, a small trick had to be used to keep it going. Then, carnivals were banned because of their pagan and extravagant nature, so they were renamed Winter Festivals and continued to be celebrated as they were.
The entire city and the thousands of visitors it receives, participate in the carnival frenzy on the fringe of the official events of the festival. These gather a multitude of bands, comparsas and associations that work on their costumes and performances for a year to offer an impressive and fantastic show.
More than three decades ago, the Tenerife carnival decided to dedicate each edition to a different theme. The first year was Rome, and later came the jungle, Egypt, space, cinema, the 80s, the circus, Atlantis... and so on until today. But in addition to the theme, each carnival has its official song and its queen. They are chosen on the Wednesday before the big celebration, which, by the way, is rated of International Tourist Interest since 1980.
After several days of floats, drums and colourful partying, the Gran Coso Apoteosis arrives, a parade that officially closes the festivities and precedes the traditional Burial of the Sardine on Ash Wednesday. Lent and recollection begin, but don't believe it all, because there are still Saturday and Sunday the Piñata to spend the last of your energies, if you have any left!
