Carnival 2024 Program in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Its History

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Leer el programa completo del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Tenerife Carnival 2024 Complete Program and Breakdown

_{The official website – https://carnavaldetenerife.com/actuaciones-del-carnaval-2024/ ALL the events}

What’s the Tenerife Carnival all about?

First up, let’s dive into the main events of the carnival. We’ll check out how the carnival works and why it’s such a big deal. Then, we’ll go over the schedule for the exciting carnival events in 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

A Party of History and Color

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is known as one of the most important festivals internationally and has been recognized as a National Tourist Interest Festival since 1980. It’s got a rich and varied history that makes it truly special!

Origins and History

• European Settlements: It’s believed that the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been celebrated since the island’s first European settlements in 1496. The earliest written references date back to the late 18th century, mentioning the tradition of swapping genders through costumes.
• 18th Century: The first specific written records date back to the end of this century, highlighting masked balls and parades.
• Period of Dictatorships: During the dictatorships of Miguel Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco, the carnival was renamed “Winter Festivals” to avoid being banned. Still, the celebrations carried on in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. (In Spain, King Felipe IV threw a big Carnival party in 1637. There were times when Carnival was banned and then restored by different monarchs.)

AWARD HISTORY – Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival – carnavaldetenerife.com

Cultural Meaning

• International Recognition: In 1980, the carnival was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest and in 2000, it earned the title of World Capital of Carnival. Right now, there are efforts to get it recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Largest Gathering of People: The biggest crowd ever recorded in an open square during Carnival happened twice, especially featuring Juan Luis Guerra’s concert in 2019.

Carnival House

For those curious about the history and traditions of the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Casa del Carnaval offers an immersive experience any time of the year.

Origins and Evolution

Carnival has its roots in ancient pagan festivals. For instance, the Roman Saturnalia was a year-end celebration filled with gift exchanges, public feasts, and a temporary break from social norms. When Christianity came along, these festivities got a makeover and started to lead up to the 40 days of Lent.

These days, Carnival is all about freedom, inclusion, and identity, bringing people from all over the world together to dress up and celebrate. In many places, like the Dominican Republic, carnivals have deep cultural significance and are tied to important dates of independence and restoration.

Main Events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

• Friday, January 12: Carnival kicks off!
• Wednesday, February 7th: Carnival Queen Selection Gala.
• Friday, February 9th: Cabalgata Anunciadora, the parade to kick off the carnival!
• Tuesday, February 13: Coso Apoteosis, the epic carnival parade.
• Wednesday February 14: Burial of the Sardine.
• Sunday, February 18th: It’s the Grand Finale, the closing of the carnival!

All the Major Events Explained

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2024 Kicks Off in Style!

On Wednesday, January 12, 2024, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival kicks off with a spectacular opening. The opening is usually a showcase of music, dance, and creativity, featuring the groups and artists that will bring the carnival to life in the weeks ahead. Get ready for the start of one of the most vibrant festivals in the world!

Tenerife Carnival Queen Election Gala: A Dazzling Event

Wednesday, February 7th is a key date in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as it hosts the Queen Election Gala. This event is one of the most anticipated and spectacular highlights of the carnival, where creativity, design, and elegance come together for a magical night. Contestants strut their stuff in amazing costumes, true works of art, competing for the coveted title of Carnival Queen. The gala is not just a showcase of fashion and beauty, but also a moment of great emotion and pride for the people of Tenerife.

An event you can’t miss if you’re a Carnival lover!

The Announcing Parade: The Colorful Kickoff of the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival officially kicks off on Friday, February 9 with the “Announcement Parade”, a vibrant parade bursting with color and joy. This event is an amazing spectacle where floats, dance groups, and costumed participants fill the streets with music, dancing, and loads of fun. The parade winds through the main avenues of Santa Cruz, marking the official start of the carnival festivities. It’s a must-see event that draws thousands of spectators and is perfect for soaking up the festive spirit of the carnival right from the get-go.

The Coso Apoteosis: The Grand Parade of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival

The Coso Apoteosis is the big parade that marks the climax of the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Usually held on Tuesday, February 13th, this parade is a vibrant display of energy, color, and creativity. Participants in colorful costumes, lively dance troupes, elaborate floats, and music groups fill the main streets of the city in a festive and joyful atmosphere.
It’s the event where the carnival reaches its peak, bringing together participants and spectators in a celebration that is the heart and soul of the Carnaval de Tenerife.

SARDINE BURIAL – Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Get ready for an epic celebration! This is one of the coolest events you’ll experience in the Canary Islands. Don’t miss out!

The last day of the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is celebrated with an event known as “The Burial of the Sardine”, which symbolizes the end of the festivities. This day, usually on the Wednesday of February 14th, is marked by a humorous and satirical parade where a gigantic cardboard sardine is carried through the streets of the city. Participants, often dressed extravagantly as weeping widows, accompany the sardine in a festive yet “mourning” atmosphere, bidding farewell to that year’s carnival.

The event wraps up with the symbolic burning of the sardine, a act that symbolizes purification and rebirth. It’s a spectacular and emotional finale for the Carnival, packed with irony and fun.

Sunday, February 18: The Grand Closing of the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The final act of the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, known as the “Fin de Fiesta,” happens on Sunday, February 18th. This day officially wraps up the festivities with an atmosphere of joy and nostalgia. The city comes alive with music, dancing, and spontaneous parades, where everyone takes the chance to soak up the last hours of carnival.

It’s an opportunity to catch the carnival groups in a more relaxed, family-friendly vibe, saying goodbye to the festivities until next year. The “Fin de Fiesta” is a mix of celebration and farewell, leaving everyone with unforgettable memories and the excitement for next year’s carnival.

In short, mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 13, and Wednesday, February 14!

and the following weekend is the Grand Carnival Party in Santa Cruz de Tenerife!

The highlight of the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, famous for its epic celebrations full of concerts and music, usually happens during the “Coso Apoteosis” and the “Carnavales de Día.” These events, which typically take place around Tuesday, February 13th and the following weekends, are where the party really comes alive. With live concerts, performances from various music groups and murgas, and a vibrant atmosphere packed with music and dance, these days are the heart and soul of the carnival.

The city turns into a huge stage where locals and visitors come together to soak up the music, dance, and joy of the Tenerife Carnival.

Plus, you’ll catch live music, comedy shows, and dancing from local crews!

The groups and collectives of the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are a big part of the chicharrero party scene, and they’ve been growing in number and variety, decade after decade.

• Rondallas: Carnival music groups that focus on lyrical style and vocal technique, made up of soloists, a choir, and string instruments.
• Murgas: These are lively groups with a critical and humorous vibe, hailing from the capital’s neighborhoods. They use irony and satire to comment on the sociopolitical scene, making their performances both entertaining and thought-provoking!
• Comparsas: Groups that bring rhythm and color to the carnival, inspired by the beats of Brazil and the Caribbean, featuring dance, batucada, and lively music.
• Evolution: Over the decades, new musical groups and dance troupes have joined in, showcasing popular expression and the joy of celebrations through Latin and modern music.

DAY CARNIVAL

The Day Carnival takes place on the first Sunday of Carnival and on Piñata Saturday, bringing together hundreds of thousands of people during the day at various stages set up on the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

People of all ages come together for a daytime party where you can enjoy, dance, and show off your awesome costumes, and of course, keep the fun going into the night!

Want more Carneval?

Events in Puerto de la Cruz

The Puerto de La Cruz Carnival will take place from February 1 to 25, 2024, with the theme “Eurovision.”
Some of the main events include the election of the carnival queen, the men’s marathon ‘Mascarita Ponte Tacón,’ and the Coso Apoteosis, a huge parade.

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Leer el programa completo del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

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