Fuerteventura Feats Days

On the island of Fuerteventura and as with the other Canary Islands, the holidays they celebrate in each village are related to their ancient culture and the saint or holy governing for them. The preparation of each celebration or festivity is a great event for the people, they beautify the facades of the houses, paint the doors, place bouquets and flags everywhere, and people buy new clothes. Besides preparing special meals, verbenas (scene for folk singers) are mounted and cultural events with folklore typical of the island. The festivities usually begin with a mass in honour of the saint or holy, followed by a procession, it usually lasts 3 days.

The Carnival is a festival that takes place in January and February and is the most alive and has a massive participation of the local inhabitants. Here we highlight the carnival of Puerto Del Rosario, Gran Tarajal and Corralejo.

The pilgrimage is another religious party and also has a large monitoring and involvement of its inhabitants. Here is the pilgrimage of La Peña and Tanquito and Cardón that are the most important. The pilgrimage of La Peña, who is being held in Vega Rio Palmas on the third Saturday of September; here you venerate and make promises to the “Virgen de la Peña”, the patron saint of the island of Fuerteventura

In Tanquito they raise the image of the virgin up on the shoulder and carry it to the top of the mountain, making occasional stops to renew forces. Then in the top of the mountain the Virgin is placed in a cave and the party continues with a barbecue.

Another important is the feast of the Virgen del Carmen, seafaring tradition, is celebrated on July 16 while in Morro Jable and Corralejo; where they walk the Virgin by the waters of the coast.

The festivities have been changing over time as a result of the modernization of society, giving it a more unified and collective character. These festivals are closely linked with traditional music and dances, for example:” ISAS” chants from the forties- fifties coming from old patterns, men in the dance execute their movements carrying a stick that hangs in his upper backpack wool.

“Malagueñas”, sad songs that relate to the love to earth and death; dancing is for soloists. FOLIAS is a baroque dance from the XVII and the XVIII centuries; danced by one person alone accompanied with “castañetas”. “Seguidillas” is a literary verse from the XV century, time of the Catholic Monarchs, these are sung by soloists. SORONDONGOS and it comes from a children's game of the XVI century. Etc...