Fiesta calendar
Christian, national and local holidays play an important role in La Gomera. The Gomeros know how to celebrate - happily and extensively! Their fiestas often last a week including the weekends before or after the actual festival day. And the party often goes on until well after midnight!
January
January 1st: Ano Nuevo - New Year
National holiday.
January 6th: Los Reyes Magos - Feast of the Three Kings
National holiday. In the Canary Islands, as in all of Spain, the Christmas presents take place on January 6th for the Epiphany. Especially on the streets of Valle Gran Rey, men disguised as the Three Wise Men throw candy to the children on the eve of the festival.
February March
Fiesta de Carnaval - Carnival
For several weeks, the carnival on La Gomera is celebrated to hot samba and salsa rhythms. With the burial of the sardine on Ash Wednesday, the foolish hustle and bustle comes to an end.
March April
In the week before Easter, Semana Santa, pagan and Christian traditions merge. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are public holidays on La Gomera, but not Easter Monday.
April 24th: Fiesta de San Marcos
A spectacular festival with a varied program takes place in Agulo in honor of Saint San Marcos. As a climax, young men jump through the fire to prove their courage.
May
May 1st: Dia del Trabajo - Labor Day
National holiday with rallies.
May 3rd: Fiesta de la Cruz - Day of the Cross
On the day of the cross you can find decorated crucifixes and arrangements in the shape of a cross in many places.
May 15th: Fiesta de San Isidro
In honor of the patron saint of farmers, celebrations take place at the Chorros de Epina and in Alajero.
May 30th: Dia de las Islas Canarias - Canary Islands Day
An important holiday of the Canarios with many events.
End of May: Fiesta de Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
Processions on the occasion of the Christian festival.
June
June 24th: Fiesta San Juan - St. John's Day
The celebration of St. John's Day - the summer solstice - is celebrated on La Gomera with a mixture of Christian and pagan traditions. First, the faithful commemorate Saint San Juan in processions, later in the evening a fire is lit. Even the native inhabitants of the island wanted to thank the gods for the good harvest and drive away evil in this way.
July
July 16: Fiesta del Carmen
In many port towns in the Canary Islands, believers commemorate the patron saint of fishermen - the Nuestra Senora del Carmen. After going to church, the statue of the Madonna is honored in processions and on a subsequent boat trip. On La Gomera, the biggest celebrations take place in Valle Gran Rey, Playa Santiago, San Sebastian and Vallehermoso.
End of July: Fiesta de la Virgen del Pino
In El Cercado, the Madonna figure of the Virgin of the Pines is honored.
August
August 5th: Fiesta de la Virgen de las Nieves
Festival in honor of the patron saint in La Dama.
August 15th: Fiesta de la Candelaria - Assumption of Mary
The large, traditional island fiesta in honor of the patron saint attracts the entire island population. After a solemn procession, the exuberant fiesta begins. The Gomeros dance to the sounds of local music groups until the early hours of the morning.
September
September 11th: Fiesta Nuestra Senora del Buen Paso
This festival is one of the most important celebrations on La Gomera. In honor of the statue of the Blessed Virgin of the Good Way, the island's longest procession goes through the streets.
September 24th: Fiesta de la Mercedes
The patron saint Mercedes is remembered in Agulo.
October
Bajada de la Virgen de Guadalupe - the main island fiesta
Every five years, the Gomeros celebrate their most important festival and commemorate the island's patron saint, the Virgen de Guadalupe. Believers carry the Madonna figure to all the communities on the island in a procession that lasts several days. Magnificently decorated streets, fiestas and fairs are part of it. Everyone tries to come to celebrate with family and friends.
October 12th: Dia de la Hispanidad - Discovery of America
National holiday on the occasion of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.
Mid-October: Fiesta de la Virgen de las Nieves
Festival in honor of the saints in the sanctuary near Degollada de Peraza.
October 31: Fiesta de los Cochinos
Festival in Alojera.
November
November 1st: Todos los Santos - All Saints' Day
National holiday.
November 30th: Fiesta de San Andres
Young wine is tasted with family and friends, especially in the north of the island.
December
Adviento - Advent
Local musicians move from house to house in groups and perform villancicos, which are Advent and Christmas carols.
December 6th: Dia de la Constitucion - Constitution Day
Commemoration of the 1978 referendum made possible by the current Spanish Constitution.
December 8th: Inmaculada Concepcion - Mary's Conception
National holiday with processions.
December January
Bajada de Nuestra, Lady Virgen de los Reyes
Every five years, large, multi-week fiesta in Valle Gran Rey in honor of the patron saint Virgen de los Reyes. The focus of the festival is the solemn procession with the figure of the Madonna, which is accompanied by musicians and dance groups through the various districts of the Valle Gran Rey.
December 24th: Noche Buena - Christmas Eve
It is celebrated with a family meal followed by midnight mass.
December 25th: Navidad - Christmas
National holiday.
December 31st: Noche Vieja - New Year's Eve
The Gomeros like to come elegantly dressed for New Year's Eve. As soon as the bells ring in the new year, in some places they eat a bunch of grapes every time the bell hits, to ensure good luck for the coming year.
Overview of the fiestas
February March: Carnival in San Sebastian and other places.
April: 24.04. Feast of San Marcos in Agulo.
May: 15.05. Feast of San Isidro in La Palmita, Agulo, Epina and Alajero.
June: 13.06. Feast of San Antonio in Valle Gran Rey; 24.06. Feast of San Juan in Vallehermoso, Valle Gran Rey and San Sebastian; 29.06. Feast of San Pedro in Valle Gran Rey
July: 08.07. Feast of San Benito in Los Acevinos (Hermigua); 11.07. Feast of San Cristobal in San Sebastian; 14.07. Feast of the Virgen de la Salud in Arure (Valle Gran Rey); 16.07/25.07 El Carmen in Valle Gran Rey and San Sebastian; XNUMX/XNUMX Feast of Santiago Apostle in Playa de Santiago
August: 03.08/08.08 Feast of San Berito Abad in San Sebastian; 15.08. Feast of Santo Domingo in Hermigua; 16.08/23.08 Feast of the Virgen de Candelaria in Chipude, Vallehermoso; 24.08/30 Feast of San Salvador in Arure (Valle Gran Rey); 31.08/30 Santa Rosa Festival in Las Rosas (Agulo); 31.08/XNUMX Feast of San Bartolome in Alojera and San Sebastian; XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX Feast of the Virgen del Buen Viaje in Tagaluche (Valle Gran Rey); XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX Feast of the Virgen de Lourdes in El Cedro
September: 01.09. Feast of the Virgen del Pino in El Cercado and Vallehermoso; 06.09. Fiestas Colombinas in San Sebastian, celebrations commemorating Columbus' stay on the island; 08.09. Feast of Our Lady of the Encarnacion in Hermigua; 12.09. Caridad del Cobre festival in Tamargada (Vallehermoso); 14./15.09. Feast of the Virgen del Buen Paso in Alajero
October: The first Monday of October Feast of the Virgen de Guadelupe in Puntallana; the second Sunday of October, Feast of the Virgen de la Salud in Las Nieves; 03.10. Feast of Santa Clara in Arguamul (Vallehermoso).
December: 13.12. Feast of Santa Lucia in Tazo (Vallehermoso)
