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  Like most of Spain, Lanzarote & Fuerteventura boast an abundance of unique fiestas and festivals, virtually all of these events are religious in origin – but you don't have to be a Catholic or a Conejero to get involved.

These are just some of the biggest and best events. There are many more localised fiestas in specific villages, towns and municipalities.

Dia Del Reyes – January 5th/6th
In Spain it's the Three Wise men who come bearing gifts, not Santa Claus. And as a result Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, is one of the most important events on the festival calendar. Especially if you are a child– as this is when (officially anyway) you get your Christmas presents.
The event is marked with a colourful camel back procession as the Three Kings dispense sweets to children throughout the main towns on the island.
The best place to watch the festivities is in the islands capital Arricife, where a large scale and well attended procession takes place on the evening of January 5th, usually commencing at 6pm. The procession is also repeated later in Puerto del Carmen along the main Avenida de las Playas, normally from 9pm.


Carnival – From February
Carnival in the Canary Islands is a serious business. After Rio de Janeiro these seven specks of Spain host some of the biggest and most riotous celebrations in the world,  many holiday makers time their visit to coincide with this annual event, which traditionally kicks off in the last week or so of February.
Carnival takes place on different dates in different locations – but the best places to catch the action are in Arricife and Puerto del Carmen. In Arricife the event stretches across a week or so – building up to the main procession, which features brilliantly decorated floats, fantastic costumes and lots of riotous music and dancing.
Smaller scale versions of the event also take place in Costa Tequise and Playa Blanca.


Corpus Christi : Mid-June
After Carnival, Corpus Christi has to be Lanzarote´s most colourful event.
As with most fiestas and festivals on the island the best place to take in the celebrations is in the capital, Arricife.

On the Saturday afternoon following Corpus Christi islanders create incredibly intricate carpets of sea salt, in elaborate and colourful designs, all along the roads and pavements around the Church of San Ginés (adjacent to the El Charco Area).

The next day a major procession proceeds from the Church across the carpets of salt. So these works of art are visible for one day only.


Canarian Day - Dia de Canarias – May 30th
May 30th marks the date when the Canaries first gained autonomy from Spain, back in 1983. And now it’s an annual holiday across the all of the seven islands in the archipelago.

The fiesta is a celebration of Canarian culture and events are held across the island. School kids don traditional dress, tuck into local dishes and dance to folklore music. The Canarian flag (white, blue and yellow) flies everywhere and the Cabildo organises fishing, Canarian wrestling and game hunting competitions.

Even the local supermarkets get in on the act with loads of free food and wine tastings. And most hotels mark the event, usually with themed food and folklore celebrations - so everyone has a chance to celebrate the event.
 


Fiesta de San Gines –  August
This major fiesta is in honour of Arricife patron saint San Gines.

San Gines was formerly the Bishop of Clermont. During the 16th century he was responsible for the construction of a small hermitage, now the Church de San Gines, that ministered to the nearby population of the small inland port area, called El Charco (also known locally as the puddle).

Legend has it that during the 1700´s a portrait of the Bishop appeared, floating on the waters of El Charco. And from that moment on the "porteños" (port dwellers) proclaimed him the Patron Saint of the city.

Whatever the truth of the legend it’s a great excuse for a fiesta. And during the daytime much of the activity is concentrated around the El Charco area itself, where traditional island sports such as Canarian sailing and wrestling are celebrated and a new Miss Lanzarote is elected annually.

The whole event then culminates in an impressive and extremely well attended fireworks display on the main beach promenade next to the Arrecife Gran Hotel in the night, usually starting at around 23.30 hrs.
 


.Fiesta de Neustria Señora de Los Dolores – Mancha Blanca –
Fantastic fiesta celebrating the islands patron saint and marking the point where the flow of lava from yet another volcanic eruption miraculously came to a halt in 1824 just outside the village of Mancha Blanca.

This attracts serious crowds – most in traditional Canarian dress – with many walking on foot to Mancha Blanca from all over the island as a form of pilgrimage. Often accompanied by supermarket trolleys full of ‘refreshments’.

In Mancha Blanca itself the action revolves around the church, where Dolores is paraded – as well as around the huge array of mobile bars and food stalls that spring up especially for the event.