Canarian Carnival Origins Explored in New Tenerife Exhibition
The Museum of Ibero-American Handicrafts of Tenerife will host an exhibition from February 4 to 27, delving into the origins and diverse traditional forms of Canarian carnival.
A new cultural event is set to explore the origins of traditional Canarian carnival. From February 4 to 27, the Museum of Ibero-American Handicrafts of Tenerife will host an exhibition showcasing the most authentic forms of this festival across the Canary Islands, highlighting its rich culture and popular roots.
The exhibition, open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, takes visitors on a journey through the unique celebrations on each island. Using historical items, costumes, pictures, and explanations, it aims to help people understand the diverse and special nature of these traditions.
Efraín Medina, the Councillor for Employment, Education, and Youth for the Cabildo de Tenerife, emphasized how important this exhibition is for understanding carnival's beginnings and its connection to the islands' identity and shared history. Medina stated that traditional carnival is a vital part of the islands' intangible cultural heritage, and places like the Museum of Ibero-American Handicrafts are crucial for sharing and preserving it. He also noted that introducing these traditions to the public helps strengthen knowledge and respect for them, especially among younger generations.
A key focus of the exhibition is the traditional clothing worn during carnival. These outfits are seen as a way to express culture and symbolism, reflecting popular creativity, historical context, and island identity. The costumes, masks, and accessories on display show the strong link between carnival and craftsmanship, as well as how materials, techniques, and knowledge have been passed down through generations. The ancient Carnestolendas, brought to the Canary Islands by European conquerors, blended with old rituals to create a popular, rebellious, and humorous carnival. During these celebrations, people used natural materials like animal skins, entrails, fabrics, or simple masks to disguise themselves and interact playfully with others.
Lanzarote has kept these customs alive particularly well. The "Buches" used inflated fish bladders or guts to gently tap people, showing a seafaring and satirical spirit. Alongside them, the "Diabletes de Teguise," wearing devilish masks, use a goatskin pouch on a stick called a "garabato" to symbolically hit those they meet, highlighting the ritual and provocative side. On all islands, it was common to use sheets to cover the body, creating "mascaritas," complemented by simple fabric or cardboard masks. This anonymity allowed for mockery and social criticism, often involving role reversal, such as men dressing as women. In El Hierro, the "Carneros de Tigaday," covered in skins and horns, roam the streets symbolically butting, recalling ancient fertility and renewal rites.
While many of these carnival traditions have faded on other islands over time, Lanzarote and El Hierro still maintain vibrant examples of this ancient carnival. It is considered a fundamental part of the Canary Islands' cultural heritage and collective memory. The accuracy of the historical and ethnographic content, along with the proper context of the exhibits, has been ensured by the advice of the Sectoral Council of Traditional Attire of Tenerife. Through this initiative, the Museum of Ibero-American Handicrafts of Tenerife reinforces its role as a leading cultural institution, promoting the understanding, appreciation, and sharing of Canarian popular culture, in partnership with specialized organizations dedicated to protecting the island's intangible heritage.