May is almost upon us and we’re heading deep into romerÃa season, so it’s time to polish up those vasos de romerÃa, slip a goatskin rucksack on your back and head into the hills for a dose of local culture, some free nosh and lashings of country wine”¦but remember to watch out for those cowpats.
One of the biggest and best romerÃas on Tenerife took place on Sunday 25th April, way off the beaten tourist track in Tegueste in the north of Tenerife. Tenerife Magazine was there in the middle of the action, dodging goats, oxen and roving bands of muchachos in traditional costume intent on pouring wine down our throats”¦just to bring you photos of the event. Dedicated or what?
RomerÃa Queen
The trick is to catch the eye of the people in the carts by waving hands, hats, or whatever you fancy and then catch whatever food is thrown your way. One lapse of attention and it could be a hard boiled one right between the eyes though.
Okay Who Will I Throw This Egg At?
From an early age children are indoctrinated into the romerÃa tradition of handing out food to the crowds”¦trouble is they can’t make up their minds who they should give the food to. You can almost see them mentally going “˜eenie, meenie, minie mo”¦’
Here’s Looking at You Kid
Sometimes you can get a bit too close to the action, but these goats were pretty cool. They’re used to being surrounded by thousands of people. They did get a bit nervous when they passed the guys setting up barbeques however.
Pretty Maids All in a Row
The RomerÃa de San Marcos is slightly different from other similar events as it has more of a youthful atmosphere than most. Subsequently the streets are full of the area’s younger people looking fabulous in traditional costumes. These girls are wearing examples of four different types of traditional dress.
Midget Gems
An “˜aaah’ moment at the fiesta courtesy of a couple of Shetland ponies. As well as ponies, oxen, goats, sheep and donkeys there was also the occasional pooch in traditional costume”¦not a stylish look. The harvest float behind the ponies features a mock up of a sugar cane grinder.
Dancing in the Street
Anyone who turned up at the RomerÃa de San Marcos expecting a quaint little fiesta was in for a bit of a shock. The streets around the main plaza were packed full of thousands upon thousands of revellers. It was like carnaval revisited. This area was the dance zone and was lined with kiosks. There were so many people that it was impossible to leave and I was trapped against the counter of a beer stall. Tragic eh? Salud.
