Typical Festivals of Gran Canaria
Like most of the traditional Spanish and Canarian festivals, those of Gran Canaria have a strong link to the sacred, especially to the Catholic culture and religion. In some isolated cases, they are an approach to the ancestral culture to which tradition is still strongly linked today, coming both from the pre-Hispanic aboriginal world and from religions of the ancient world. Only recently have non-sacred holidays been born, referring to agricultural products.
The 10 most popular festivals in Gran Canaria
Feel close to and form part of the culture of the island, thanks to these festivals that commemorate very emblematic days in the calendar of each of the municipalities. Such special celebrations have crossed the island’s borders, and have become known throughout the country, and all over the world.
1. Bajada de la Rama de Agaete
It takes place on August 4th, a festive act with rituals of the ancient aborigines, where thousands of dancers, to the rhythm of one of the two bands of the municipality, leave from the centre of the village to the upper part of the village to take pieces of Rama and go down dancing with them to the sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves in the port.
Agaete’s festive retinue is led by papahuevos, made of cardboard and representing popular characters of the town, who, as they turn with their big hands, are beating the crowd and making their way through. These festivities have been declared of National Tourist Interest.
It is a party full of music, good typical Canarian food, festivity, joy and tradition in which you will experience a unique Canarian feeling, for which we recommend you to book your accommodation in advance because it will be impossible for you to do so in the nearby days, as it is a party that is attended by a large number of people and will provide you with an unrepeatable experience.
2. Fiesta del Charco
Every September 11, La Aldea celebrates the unique Fiesta del Charco, which revives the custom of the ancient inhabitants. The origin of this festival lies in the large pool formed at the mouth of the La Aldea ravine and which was named La Marciega.
In it the canaries fished using the technique of narcotizing the fish with sap from shoals and tabaibas. This aboriginal fishing technique was transformed over the centuries into a great and unique festival. Join the fun and tradition of this moment, running with a hundred people towards the center of the pond, living a fun, emotional and cultural experience, which you will remember for a lifetime.
3. Fiestas de El Pino
On the 8th of September the main festivity of Gran Canaria takes place in Teror in honour of Ntra. Mrs. del Pino, the Patroness of the island and the Diocese of the Canary Islands. In the weeks of celebration of the festival, Teror becomes a place of pilgrimage and a meeting point for thousands of visitors.
The Fiesta del Pino is not a local celebration, but transcends the whole island as an island holiday.
Enjoy one of the best fiestas in Gran Canaria, staying in this fantastic rural house, and witness how year after year hundreds of people gather, who after walking from different locations, arrive at the church of the Virgen del Pino to venerate it. A festivity that will make you understand the Canarian feeling and you will have fun as one more thanks to the cultural dances and the typical food in an emblematic municipality like Teror.
4. Bajada del Gofio
This is a festival that takes place in the municipality of Agüímes, is held in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. The “Bajada del Agua y del Gofio” is generally celebrated on the last Saturday of September, and it commemorates the ancient custom of taking this fundamental element of our gastronomy to the mill.
You will be able to find a series of wonderful accommodations from which to enjoy this traditional party, as is the case of this wonderful apartment located near the beach of Arinaga.
5. Suelta del perro maldito
This popular tradition, recovered some twenty years ago by a group of young people in the municipality of Valsequillo, is celebrated on the night of 28 September. It was once believed that on St. Michael’s night, the dog-shaped devil was released from his chains because he was held by the Archangel St. Michael.
He was accompanied by witches and various demons and the struggle between freedom and repression, parties and imprisonment began. The women and children stayed in the houses because for them especially it was a night of terror. This celebration has been growing in expectation in recent years.
6. Vará del Pescao
This festival held on Arinaga Beach dates back to 1995, when the first "Vará del Pescao”; was held. Its purpose is to bring the fishing of our ancestors to the village in general, remembering the traditional way of bringing fish to the coast.
Traditional fishermen used to accompany themselves with conches as a way of attracting the public for sale. On the last Friday of August, the "barca de la Vará”; runs along the Avenida de la Playa de Arinaga. More than 800 kilos of sardines are roasted, to be distributed among the attendees, who are dressed in traditional seafaring clothing with the company of music bands and folklore groups. You can always attend this party by staying in this spectacular apartment.
7. Fiesta del Queso de Guía
It is celebrated in two places in the municipality, in Guía and the Montaña Alta district, with a common objective: to promote the products, activities, dishes, folklore, etc. typical of the land, but above all it tries to give greater importance to an ancestral product such as “Queso de Flor de Guía”.
Its dates of celebration are: in the Town Hall the last weekend of April and in Montaña Alta the first weekend of May of every year.
8. Festivals of Las Marías
These festivals celebrated in Santa Mª de Guía have their origin in the year 1811. At that time the local people were suffering from the scourge of a plague of cicadas on their land.
According to popular legend: “All of them prostrated themselves at the sight of the towers of the Sanctuary of the Virgin, with their eyes fixed on a hope that only Faith could make tangible. And the Virgin heard them. From there, in a few moments, they saw some clouds that climbed up the ravine from the sea and that, upon arriving over the lands that were moaning under the punishment of the plague, discharged in torrential rain, destroying the cicada in a few moments and moving away in such a miraculous way the devastation and the ruin that was hovering over their lands and over that whole region”.
Since then they made a promise of annual offering to the Blessed Virgin of Guía and up to our days it has been carried out uninterruptedly year after year.
9. Fiesta del Almendro en Flor
They are celebrated in the municipality of Tejeda during the month of February when the almond trees blossom and flood the landscape with their white flowers announcing the next arrival of spring. A landscape that will undoubtedly leave you speechless, you can always learn more about this and many more landscapes of Gran Canaria in our article about the 7 best landscapes of Gran Canaria.
It is recognized as one of the most attractive and traditional festivals of Gran Canaria, constituting an accentuated expression of popular traditions in all areas: regarding craftsmanship, folklore and customs mainly.
10. The Carnival
Finally, as a case apart from the celebrations of the Island, the famous Carnivals appear. This is the festival with the greatest repercussion in Gran Canaria, which has exceeded and transcended the popular limits of its origins, linked to the festival of “Don Carnal”, on Carnival Tuesday, just before entering the time of Lent, which are the 30 days that serve as preparation for Holy Week.
Like all mass festivals, it has lost some of its popular and spontaneous character, as priority is given to the great galas of Elección de la Reina, the murga and parade competitions, horse shows, etc. in addition to the recent famous drag queen gala.
What did you think of our post about the parties in Gran Canaria? Would you include or substitute a party in this post?! Tell us! We look forward to reading your proposals and experiences. Remember that you can always search for accommodation on our website www. hosticasaproperties. com