What can you expect in the way of Christmas celebrations on Lanzarote? While the annual midwinter festival is not as commercial as in many northern European countries, it is still a big deal for Canarians. As a Catholic country, much of the traditional celebrations revolve around midnight mass for the older generation.
Younger folk may be less keen on attending church on Christmas Eve, but the family dinner which is also held on 24th December continues to be a big deal. This may mean that your favourite tapas bar or fish restaurant closes early on 24th to give staff a chance to get home and see their family.
But it also means that Christmas Day sees less of a shutdown than at home, with many restaurants and cafes open for business as usual. As Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, the market in Teguise will also be operating, with more festive activities on offer as well.
And in preparation for the big day, there is also a Christmas Fair in Teguise between 16th and 18th December, where you can get handmade arts and crafts items as well as a range of local food and drink. This market runs between 11.00 am and 21.00pm and takes place in the main square that the Sunday market is held in each week.
In the past, Teguise was also the location of the Ranchos de Pascua, which consisted of a strolling group of musicians and singers touring the town on foot in celebration of the nativity, with many of the songs drawn from local folklore traditions. These days the Rancho takes place only on the night of 24th December in Teguise, so you will need to head to the old capital if you want to see this festivity.
One tradition that is still upheld with much enthusiasm however, is the Belén. This is the recreation of the nativity scene, hence its name – Belén being Spanish for Bethlehem. Every major town around the island will have its own Belén, some with lighting in the miniature houses, others showing a whitewashed village surrounded by volcanoes.
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