The patron saint of the Canary Islands, the Virgin de Candelaria, is celebrated every year on Tenerife with not just one fiesta – but two! Taking place in February and August, you have two great opportunities to enjoy the festivities when you visit on flights to Tenerife, and both fiestas have their own unique characteristics.

February’s fiesta takes place on the 2nd, but this particular celebration only takes place on the island of Tenerife. This is because the patron saint of Tenerife, La Morenita (or ‘the Black Madonna’) was said to have been seen in the form of an apparition in the town of Candelaria back in 1392, and she is now honoured there with a basilica.

On this day a large procession and mass takes place in Candelaria, for which many pilgrims will travel to Tenerife to witness. A large feast is also held in the evening, which as you can imagine is the highlight of the day for many revellers!

Double the Fun

The second fiesta, held on the 15th August has just taken place, and this time the whole of the Canary Islands was involved. As a public holiday the majority of local businesses on the Canary Islands were closed on this day which rather than be an inconvenience to holidaymakers, was just be treated as an excuse to get involved.

As with the first fiesta revellers enjoyed a mass service and beautiful procession, and more pilgrims travelled to the Tenerife than ever. Festive activities and events took place throughout the day including a re-enactment of the legend of the Virgin de Candelaria’s appearance to the Guanches, the ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands, by a group of local residents.

Of course a fiesta wouldn’t be a fiesta without an all-night party to round off the days’ events, and those visiting on flights to Tenerife during the August event certainly had the opportunity to party like the Spaniards. To ensure that you don’t miss out on the fun next year, check out airlines like Jet2.com whose cheap flights to Tenerife start at just £56 with all taxes and fares included.

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