Romerías, the heart of Tenerife‘s cultural and religious traditions, offer a vibrant tapestry of the island’s heritage, combining religious observance with festive celebration. These pilgrimages, deeply embedded in Tenerife’s culture, embody a unique blend of devotion and communal festivity, showcasing traditional Canarian music, dance, and attire. Beyond their religious significance, romerías celebrate Tenerife’s agricultural roots, often featuring parades of beautifully adorned oxen and carts laden with local produce.
The annual pilgrimage calendar commenced this year with the celebrations in honour of San Antonio Abad in Los Realejos and Arona, marking the beginning of a series of eagerly awaited festivities across the island. Los Realejos led the way, inaugurating the Canary Islands’ romería season with its tribute to San Antonio Abad on 14th January, highlighted by a Eucharist at the Nuestra Señora de La Concepción chapel, with the Agrupación Folclórica Guayacsanta providing the musical backdrop.
In Arona, the festivities for San Antonio Abad, a tradition steeped in history, began on 11 January. The climax of these celebrations was reached on 14 January with a grand pilgrimage and the traditional blessing of the animals, a ceremony that not only honours the patron saint but also signals the start of the island’s festival calendar.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Tenerife pilgrimage calendar is filled with events that continue to draw locals and visitors into the rich tapestry of the island’s traditions. January is particularly busy, featuring numerous celebrations in honour of San Antonio Abad across towns like Tigaiga in Los Realejos, Arona, Icod de los Vinos, Chío in Guía de Isora, Güímar, and Buenavista del Norte, each bringing its own unique festivities and charm.
The calendar of romerías for 2024 promises a continuation of these cherished traditions with notable events, including:
January
- 28th January
- Pilgrimage in Honour of San Antonio Abad in Güímar
- 29th January
- Romería in Honour of San Antonio Abad and Virgen de la Esperanza in La Florida, La Orotava
- Pilgrimage in Honour of San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte
March
- 16th March
- Romería de San José in Barranco Hondo, Candelaria
April
- 28th April
- Pilgrimage in honour of San Marcos in Tegueste
May
- 1st May
- Pilgrimage in Honour of San Alejo in El Tanque
- 14th May
- Pilgrimage of La Virgen del Buen Viaje and San Telmo in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Pilgrimage of Valle San Lorenzo in Arona
- 19th May
- San Isidro Pilgrimage in Guía de Isora
- Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza in Valle de Guerra
- 26th May
- Pilgrimage of San Isidro in Los Realejos
- San Isidro Labrador in May in Granadilla (Date to be determined)
June
- 11th June
- Pilgrimage in honour of San Antonio de Padua in Granadilla de Abona
- 18th June
- Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador in La Orotava
- Romero pilgrimage in Puerto de la Cruz (Date to be confirmed)
- Romería de San Isidro de Guamasa in La Laguna (Date to be confirmed)
July
- 14th July
- Romería de San Benito Abad in La Laguna (Date to be confirmed)
- 28th July
- Romería del Portezuelo in Tegueste
August
- 4th August
- Pilgrimage of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza in El Rosario
- 10th August
- Bajada de Las Hayas in La Guancha
- 14th August
- Pilgrimage of La Candelaria in Candelaria
- 16th August
- Pilgrimage of San Roque in Garachico
- 20th August
- Romería del Poleo in El Amparo, Icod de los Vinos
- 31st August
- Pilgrimage of San Agustín in Arafo
September
- 7th September
- Bajada de la Virgen El Socorro in Güímar
- 8th September
- Ascent of the Virgen del Socorro in Güímar
- 21st September
- San José Pilgrimage in San Juan de la Rambla
- Romería de San Miguel Arcángel in San Miguel de Abona (Date to be confirmed)
October
- 27th October
- Pilgrimage in Honour of Santa Úrsula in Adeje
November
- Romería del Volcán in Santiago del Teide (Date to be confirmed)
This comprehensive calendar highlights the rich tapestry of traditions that Tenerife offers through its romerías, inviting both locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the island’s vibrant cultural heritage.
