Its Carnival Time!!!

Whilst we celebrate lent in the UK with pancakes – the Canarians celebrate with carnival. Traditionally carnival was the day of finishing up meat (carne va or meat goes) before the period of lent so families would have a big feast and often neighbours would be invited and as usual in Tenerife it didn’t take much to turn this into a general get together and fiesta with everyone taking to the streets to celebrate. Its more fun than tossing pancakes!!!

During the run up there are carnival events somewhere on the island, but if Carnival itself isn't enough for you, this year the after party, After Carnival 2009, starts at 5 a.m. each morning at Discoteca Dreams in Santa Cruz, from Sunday, February 22nd through to Sunday, March 1st.

Following from the USA which now has its first black President and the Santa Cruz Carnival elected its first black Carnival Queen. The 18 year old Ana María Tavárez Mata, representing the newspaper El Día, with a costume entitled Embrujada (Bewitched) designed by Leo Martínez, was chosen from among the 18 candidates in an almost 3 hour long gala!!!