How Is Easter Celebrated In Tenerife?

In my youth, long before I lived in Tenerife, Easter was mainly equal to the start of spring and getting stuffed with Easter eggs. Little lambs in the meadow, painting eggs and looking for Easter eggs. At Easter an extensive breakfast was served, followed by a visit to the grandparents (where we hoped to score more Easter eggs). If the weather was good, we would make a bike ride through the spring landscape on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday to see the burgeoning nature.

Tenerife is the island of eternal spring, so the 4 seasons as we know them in Northern Europe are slightly different here. We have flowers on the island all year round, but every season is slightly different. At the beginning of this year, for example, we had the stunning almond blossom, and in about a month the Tajinastes will be in bloom again. So the feeling of spring is always there.

In Tenerife, as in the rest of Spain, Easter lasts a whole week. Also known as Semana Santa. This year it begins on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, and ends on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Semana Santa

Holy Week – Semana Santa – is celebrated exuberantly. Numerous religious ceremonies and street processions take place throughout the week . Each municipality organizes its own processions and events. The most famous is that of the former capital of the island, San Cristobal de La Laguna (La Laguna). With more than 500 years of tradition, this is also the oldest Easter ceremony.

Depending on where you stay on the island, it is best to look at the website of your municipality for the full Easter program.

Easter in Adeje

Since I live in Adeje myself, I would like to comment on the program in my hometown. Besides that, Costa Adeje also belongs to this municipality, the place where most hotels are located. Perhaps there are readers who want to experience a piece of typical culture when they are on the island during Semana Santa?

La Pasíon (The  Passion)

The whole week is filled with activities (see Adeje's full program here. The recital of La Pasión is one of the spectacular highlights. The performance will take place on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, at noon in Calle Grande of Adeje (located between the Parish and the Town Hall).

This is a whole happening with actors, beautiful costumes and impressive sets. The whole is also streamed live, including on the  Facebook page and the Youtube channel of the Ayuntamiento de Adeje.

Rogativa

In Adeje, the traditional Rogativa is also an integral part of Semana Santa (the second Sunday after Easter). In this procession, the statue of the Virgen de La Encarnación is carried from the parish of Santa Úrusla (Adeje) to the church of San Sebastián (la Caleta).

This originated in the 16th century. The statue of the Virgin was originally in the chapel of La Enramada (today the church of San Sebastián). In the 16th century she was brought to the chapel of Santa Ursula to protect her from pirate attacks. In gratitude for the favors bestowed by the Virgin, her statue is temporarily returned to its original location every year^. .

Camino de La Virgen

The procession will begin at 09:00 on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at the Church of Santa Úrsula and then head towards El Portón, the entrance to the Camino de Virgen. This beautiful hiking trail runs downhill and ends just before the former chapel of La Enramada. Along the way, regular stops are made to pray (and perhaps also to put down the rather heavy statue).  

At the stop of El Humilladero, a place of worship under the open sky, the statue of San Sebastián meets that of the Virgen de la Encarnación.

So far some news from a very warm Tenerife.

Happy Easter, stay safe and ¡Hasta Pronto!