About Lanzarote

The first thing that strikes you, especially if it is your first-time to the island, is the absence of any high-rise buildings - unlike the other Canary Islands and most of Spain.

It is no accident! It is as a result of the enlightened policy put forward by the late Canarian architect, Cesar Manrique (whose former home can be visited). He had the brilliant idea of restricting all development to low-rise. This was made law by the Government of Lanzarote. Therefore, most tourist accommodation on Lanzarote comprises of pleasantly designed two-floor homes.

The overall impression is of neat and tidy buildings, with some interesting variations on "typical" and "traditional" themes. They are usually painted white, with either blue or green painted window frames, as set out by Manrique.

Wherever you travel around on the island, the whole effect is pleasing on the eye.

Lanzarote Festivals

Every year, Lanzarote has a variety of festivals/fiestas. They are static on the calandar and usually result in a public holiday. This will be in addition to the usual religious holiday days.

Fiestas

The exact dates of Fiestas will depend on the location (different Towns/Villages have their processions on different days).

CHRISTMAS IN LANZAROTE

As everyone knows, Christmas is a time spend at home in front of a fire with friends and family. However, more and more people however, are swapping the cold weather in the UK and jetting over to Lanzarote to swap the cold winter period for a relaxing warm sunshine filled holiday. In Lanzarote, the weather around Christmas is nearly always going to be nice - traditionally around 20-25 degrees.

Christmas on the island is one of the busiest times for some of the resorts.

The Canary Islands are part of Spain, and have the same traditions. In Lanzarote it is a very festive time at Christmas. Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. During the weeks before Christmas, families gather around their manger to sing, whilst children play tambourines and dance.

Christmas Eve, 24th December, is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy. On Christmas Eve, as the stars come out, tiny oil lamps are lit in every house, and after Midnight Mass and Christmas Dinner, streets fill with dancers and onlookers. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota and the words and music have been handed down for hundreds of years. They dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.

December 28th is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.

Children think of the Three Wise Man as the gift bearers. On the 5th January every year there is a parade with 3 Camel Riders giving sweets and gifts to Children. Tradition has it that they arrive on January 6th, the date the Wise Men gave gifts to Jesus. This is when the children in Spain receive their Christmas gifts - on the feast of the Epiphany.

The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.Most homes have a manger, like cathedrals and churches. These are complete with carved figures.

The Spanish especially honor the cow at Christmas because it is thought that when Mary gave birth to Jesus the cow in the stable breathed on the Baby Jesus to keep him warm.

The Spanish Christmas is Navidad, people go to church, exchange presents, and many play on swing sets set up especially for the occasion. Swinging at solstice time evokes an ancient desire to encourage the sun, urging it to "swing" ever higher in the sky.

Some of the attractions to visit over the Christmas period will be the Fire Works display (largest held in Puerto Del Carmen) the Three Kings and many Nativity Scenes.