The town in Tenerife that celebrates its fiestas with flowers, fireworks and… cows

These artisanal flower carpets are made by master florists in this Tenerife town to celebrate its June fiestas / Pixabay

Editorial Team

21 May 2018, 12:12

Corpus Christi in La Orotava

When: 7th–10th June 2018
Where: La Orotava, Spain
Website: laorotava.es

In the popular festival in La Orotava, tradition and religion mix in a heady weekend-long celebration. This fiesta is held in honour of Corpus Christi and the two patron saints of this historic town of barely 40,000 inhabitants: San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de La Cabeza.

La Orotava, a beautiful historical town

What is there to see in La Orotava? It’s a municipality located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. The historic town has some outstanding buildings located in the old town, such as the balconies on the houses of Casas de los Balcones and the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.

La Orotava also stands out for its black sand beaches and the beautiful outdoor hiking trails that many choose to do there. Also not to be missed is the Hijuela del Botánico, a garden with tropical plants from all over the world, as well as the Victoria Gardens, originally built as a mausoleum.

The Corpus Christi festivity in La Orotava

Corpus Christi has its origins in 1264 and is inspired by the arrival of spring. It has always been celebrated in La Orotava, although it was not until 1847 that it became famous.

The carpets made from flowers are incredible artistic manifestations made especially for the celebration of Corpus Christi. The Association of Carpet-makers tries to preserve the tradition, initiated by Leonor del Castillo in the 19th century.

The pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador has been celebrated since the second half of the 17th century. It takes place during the month of June, as does a Cattle Fair, and during this popular event, men dress in the typical peasant costumes, carts are pulled by oxen and women adorn their windows and balconies with shawls and carpets.

The Cattle Fair is one of the events that attracts the greatest number of visitors to this town in Tenerife. The event combines religion, tradition and folklore because, in addition to the exhibition, a blessing is given to the countryside and to the cattle themselves. After the Mass is said, the statues of the patron saints are carried out in procession. At the same time, the San Isidro Pilgrimage is preceded by a Small Pilgrimage or "Saint's Ascent", which usually ends with a firework show.

The patron saint festivities of La Orotava begin on Thursday 7th June with the Corpus Christi, followed by the traditional Magicians' Ball. On Saturday there is the Romería Chica (Small Pilgrimage), in which the saints are carried from one church to another, as well as the livestock exhibition fair. To finish the Great Pilgrimage, there are wagons and multitudes of people dressed in traditional costumes.