Tejina Concludes Saint Bartholomew Festivities with Traditional 'Unveiling of the Hearts'

The town of Tejina in Tenerife wraps up its patron saint festivities for Saint Bartholomew this Monday, August 31, with the traditional "Descuelgue de los Corazones" (Unveiling of the Hearts). This annual event, which draws large crowds to the town square, marks the symbolic end of a celebration that brings together the neighborhoods of El Pico, Calle Arriba, and Calle Abajo—the communities responsible for creating these massive structures.

The tradition is both a feat of engineering and a deep-rooted cultural ritual. Each of the three hearts stands 12 meters tall and weighs nearly a ton, crafted by the community using a blend of plants and traditional pastries. Today’s events begin at 6:00 p.m., following Sunday’s lively procession where the decorations were brought to the town center accompanied by music and neighborhood celebrations.

The unveiling follows a pre-determined order decided by a draw. Once the order is set, neighborhood committee members manually dismantle the structures by untying the strings holding the decorations in place. The crowd eagerly awaits the falling fruit and, most importantly, the artisanal cakes, which attendees try to catch as keepsakes.

This hour-long ritual does more than just close the festivities; it strengthens the sense of community among residents. While this event marks the end of the main celebrations, Tejina’s calendar remains active into early September, continuing a tradition that has become a significant cultural landmark for the Canary Islands.