Festivity of the Virgin of CandelariaFiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria

The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria honors the patron saint of the Canary Islands and is celebrated twice annually in Candelaria (Tenerife) on February 2nd and August 15th 1 2. It involves religious processions, pilgrimages to the Basilica of Candelaria, and folk rituals rooted in Guanche heritage. Thousands of local devotees and pilgrims attend masses and ceremonies, often wearing traditional Canary folk costumes 1 2. The August festival features the historical ‘Guanche Ceremony’ reenacting the 14th-century discovery of the Virgin’s statue 3.

Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Virgin of the Candle) was declared the patron saint of the archipelago in the 16th century. Her feast days are key religious and cultural events in the Canary Islands, reflecting syncretism of Catholic and aboriginal Guanche traditions. Participants carry ex-votos, dance folk rituals (like Baile de Magos), and the community shares traditional foods. The August celebration has been a major pilgrimage since medieval times, reflecting Tenerife’s deep maritime and indigenous history 1.