Festivals and traditions

Dialogue between the Ship and the Castle

The Dialogue between the Ship and the Castle is one of the traditional events scheduled as part of the celebration of the Descent of the Virgin of Las Nieves, which is held every five years in La Palma´s capital.

This act takes place when the solemn procession passes in front of the Virgin´s boat on the Sunday morning of the Semana Grande (the Big Week), before the image of the Virgin enters the Calle Real (the Royal Mile).

Battle of Lepanto

The northern municipality celebrates the re-enactment of the Battle of Lepanto, a naval battle that took place in 1571 in front of the ancient city of Lepanto, today’s Naupacto. This event takes place on a two and three yearly basis so that it does not coincide with the celebration of the Fiestas de la Bajada de la Virgen de Las Nieves.

Each year the people who take part in this allegorical manifestation are renewed and it is part of the celebration of the Patron Saint’s Festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario. The festivity is also known as El Barco or Los Moros y Cristianos, and is passed down from generation to generation as it is a unique cultural manifestation, different from the rest of the references to the historical episode that take place in other places.

Water Festival

Every year, the Maritime Avenue of Puerto Naos hosts the celebration of the Water Festival, a day of music and water in the coastal town of Los Llanos de Aridane, which has consolidated over the years.

Virgen de La Luz and San Telmo Festivities

The capital’s neighbourhood celebrates its traditional festivities, which date back to the 17th century. They have always enjoyed popular fervour, as they were organised by the people dedicated to the trades of the sea, whose guilds were based around the hermitage.

The festivity has an extensive programme of recreational and religious activities, whose main day is the solemn procession of the images of the Virgen de La Luz and San Telmo. On its route through the main streets of the neighbourhood, the locals still preserve the old custom of representing paintings as the images pass by.

It is remarkable that the images chosen to represent this devotion are clearly linked to the sea, as well as the fact that the saint is represented emerging from the inside of a galleon.

Festivities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Tazacorte)

The festivity of the Virgin of Carmel, in Puerto de Tazacorte, is celebrated on the occasion of her name day on July 16th.

Of particular importance in its programme are seafaring competitions, related to fishing, sailing and swimming, among others. There are also events for children and senior citizens, as well as recreational and cultural events.

The central and most representative event of the Fiestas del Carmen is on 16th July, when the traditional maritime procession takes place from the old Juan Graje breakwater to the new Puerto Refugio. On this day, Holy Mass is celebrated on the esplanade of the Refugio and, when the procession returns, you can enjoy a fireworks display before the Virgin is returned to her temple.

It is also celebrated in other places of the Island: Santa Cruz de La Palma, Puerto Espíndola, La Bajita, la Salemera, Puntalarga, …