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 Holiday
rentals in the Canary Islands which are a range
of exotic islands located just off the northwest coast
of Africa and sit within the warm Atlantic Ocean. Due
to historical reasons these islands are part of Spain's
autonomous community and the local people not only speak
Spanish but celebrate many of Spain's traditions and
cultures.
Why not book
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands - Tenerife
for a memorable Christmas vacation? What could be better
than celebrating Christmas at home? Well… celebrating
Christmas Day in the warm and sunny climate of the Canaries
takes a lot of beating. Christmas in the Canaries has
much to commend itself with street festivals especially
over the New Year where holiday
villas and apartments in the Canary Islands - Lanzarote
are much in demand during this festive season. Some
seasoned tourists have already identified these islands
as the place to be and enjoy their Christmas in the
Canaries year after year. If truth be known, there is
little to choose between mainland Spain and the Canaries
as they both make this festive time a truly memorable
experience. The Canaries and southern Spain possibly
have the edge on the hotter weather and in the Canaries,
the celebrations extend from December through to January.
It is very popular location during this period and with
self-catering villas and apartments from the owners
direct, you need to book your flights early and then
research choose and book your holiday rentals in the
Canary Islands.
It is well known in the tourist trade that Christmas
Week is very busy. Holiday rentals in the Canary Islands
are even more popular with tourists booking holiday
villas and apartments - Canary Islands direct with the
owners. Holidaymakers from all over Northern Europe
come to the warmer temperatures of the Canaries to enjoy
a Sunny Christmas. In fact, even the indigenous Spaniards
leave the colder climes of northern Spain to luxuriate
on the warm beaches of either the sunny Costa del Sol
or fly to the warmer islands of the Canaries.
Holiday rentals in the
Canary Islands - Temperatures in the Canaries
 The
weather in the Canaries during this season is, arguably,
the best in the world and therefore the islands have
become a popular sojourn for many tourists who want
guaranteed sunlight for their winter getaway.
Temperatures in the Canaries make these islands such
a welcoming place to visit. Gone are the memories of
heating bills and Christmas shopping in the cold. Once
holidaymakers arrive on the islands, the “bleak
mid winter” are soon forgotten. Arrival on the
Canary Islands means all cares and woes, cold and winter
clothes are left behind especially if a holidaylet
in Gran Canaria has been booked. Many tourists enjoy
Gran Canaria because of the welcoming warmth of the
climate, which can be as high as 22°C. However, in
all fairness, all the islands including Tenerife and
Fuerteventura enjoy pleasant temperatures. The smaller
islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera should
not be excluded as they too bask in the warmth of the
sun’s balmy temperatures. El Hierro for example
maintains a steady 19°C to 23°C temperature throughout
the winter season, ideal for tourists who want, when
they reside in their holiday rentals in the Canary Islands,
to delight in a pleasantly warm surroundings that’s
not a blazing hot atmosphere. Moreover, although the
daylight hours are shorter, these islands still enjoy
approximately 6 hours of sunshine a day.
Holiday rentals in the
Canary Islands - Tropical Christmas Getaway
Staying in holiday rentals in the Canary Islands is
really a magical experience as the islands are a tropical
Christmas getaway. All the islands pride themselves
in creating a truly festive atmosphere. They achieve
this by decorating their cities, towns and even villages
to present the true meaning of Christmas to all who
visit.
 The
“Canarians” tend to take the spirit of Christmas
seriously, presenting to the tourists their customs,
beliefs and traditions in the form of religious celebrations
of the nativity as well as festive parades. Holiday
villas and apartments - Canary Islands - Lanzarote
do present tourists with an opportunity to watch the
local people really immerse themselves in the spirit
of Christmas. Their celebration not only involves decorating
the houses, shops and buildings but creating a range
of tableaux on the nativity scene in the piazzas, in
shops and even on the beaches. Christmas lights adorn
streets, towns and buildings and on some islands, musicians
are out in the piazzas or in the parks playing villancicos
(carols and songs) in tribute to the Virgin Mary and
the Baby Jesus. The whole atmosphere of Christmas is
one of the main reasons why tourists arrange and book
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands.
In fact the Christmas season starts weeks before Christmas
Day, on December 8th and continues through to 6th January.
This date is the culmination of the festival with the
Epiphany Celebrations or the Parade of the 3 Kings (Ria
de los Reyes) which is equivalent to our Christmas Day.
In the Canaries, and in Spain, presents are given to
children on Epiphany just as the Three Wise Men gave
the baby Jesus presents.
There are numerous reasons why Lanzarote is also one
of the most popular resorts to book holiday villas and
apartments - Canary Islands over the Christmas period.
One of the main reasons is because there is so much
happening. There are numerous celebrations; golden sandy
beaches to relax on; welcoming bars and restaurants
in which to dine and on Christmas Eve, a huge fireworks
display is presented. Another traditional event which
the locals of Lanzarote maintain is on 3 Kings Day.
The people sell special cakes called Kings’ cakes
(Roscón de Reyes). This is a customary cake,
which contains oranges and lemon juice, as well as crystallised
fruit. Inside the cake, there is always a coin, a small
gift and sometimes a broad bean. However, beware, vacationers,
if you find a broad bean in your cake the likelihood
is that you will have the pay for the next cake.
The Three Kings procession that starts in Arrecife is
extremely popular with the local children. The Three
Kings parade around on their camels through the town
throwing sweets to the children. Similarly
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands on the island
of Fuerteventura, a parallel procession is to be seen
however on this island the Three Kings parade around
on decorated floats handing out confectionery to the
crowds. This tradition seems to be commonplace on all
the Canary Islands. Many colourful processions start
in the capital of the islands in Santa Cruz, La Palma;
Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera; and on the island of El Hierro.
Many of the children, including the children of tourists,
look awe struck, as the Kings are richly and elaborately
dressed. After an exciting day like that children perhaps
following the procession will sleep comfortably in their
holiday
rentals in the Canary Islands - La Gomera.
One island, which adopts a serious attitude to Christmas,
is the island of Gran Canaria. Tourists, who have arranged
and rented a holidaylet in Gran Canaria, will have an
enchanting time and gain an experience of the real flavour
of what makes this island so popular,. Like the other
islands, in Gran Canaria the streets and houses are
bedecked with Christmas decorations. Vacationers who
rent a holidaylet in Gran Canaria may even find their
property beautifully emblazoned with poinsettias and
leaves. Tourists can enjoy the sights of the nativity
scenes so reminiscent of perhaps one’s own childhood
at school and many tourists have the privilege of hearing
the melodies and sound of the villancicos (carols).
Gran Canaria’s, capital Las Palmas also puts on
Christmas concerts as well as other celebrations.
 Unlike
the British, the islanders have their Christmas dinner
on Christmas Eve with their family and Christmas Day
for them is a Bank holiday. In the less tourist islands
such as La Gomera and El Hierro do be careful. When
vacationers book
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands, -Playa de
las Americas in Tenerife, it is important that they
are aware that on Christmas Day many shops and restaurants
are closed. However in places with a strong British
component for rentals such as Tenerife’s Playa
de Las Americas and holiday
rentals in Los Cristianos, there may be restaurants
open for Christmas dinner service but it is always better
to book in advance as, in the more Spanish sectors,
this will not be the case. In Tenerife on Christmas
Day, it is tradition that Spanish locals go to Mount
Teide to enjoy the view and see the wonderful pine needles
and poinsettias, which make a natural Christmas decoration.
Many tourists too make the journey to Mount Teide just
to participate in this Spanish tradition before returning
to their holiday rentals in the Canary Islands.
Another popular celebration is on the New Year (Nochevieja
) or (Old Year’s night). On this occasion, the
people of Tenerife have 12 Grapes which they eat simultaneously,
at each stroke of the clock, to ring in the New year.
The grapes are washed down with a “cava” (meaning
a bubbly wine). All holidaymakers are more than welcome
to join in the festivities however, after a night of
that type of celebration; they may find it difficult
to locate their holiday
villas and apartments - Canary Islands or in Spain
for that matter
 We
cannot explore the Canaries without mentioning La Palma.
If you book
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands in particular
in La Palma you will be pleased to note that the Palmerans
certainly know how to celebrate Christmas. In fact,
they enjoy a similar set of festivals as their sister
islands with their own flavour. However, what makes
them different is that in La Palma many of the villagers
create model nativity scenes (Belen) and some villagers
even create models of current life in La Palma.
The miniature villages and scenes are sturdy enough
to be on display throughout the Christmas season in
places such as Tazacorte. In El Paso, the villagers
created life size figures for their nativity scenes.
Both types of Belen are a marvel to see and worth a
visit. Usually these nativity scenes remain in place
until after January 6th Epiphany. Islanders are also
involved in actual nativity plays and participate in
the Christmas concerts, which are outdoors in places
like Puerto Naos. These traditional events are celebrated
with such passion in La Palma that those tourists “in
the know” tend to go back for another Christmas
and re-book holiday rentals in the Canary Islands.
To see the people enjoying the true meaning of Christmas
with their families; participating in the festive carnivals
and the parade of the three Kings perhaps enables us to
realise that some things are important. Christmas is not
just a time of giving but a time of celebration of the
start of life as symbolised in the birth of Christ and
the start of a new year. It is no wonder some tourists
return year after year to these islands perhaps to re-capture
this sense of belonging and being a part of the life of
the Canarian people. Certainly, the weather and the atmosphere
have a positive effect upon most holidaymakers. So if
you wish to share in the life of the people of the Canary
Islands, savouring their Christmas experience and participating
in these festive events why not book your
holiday rentals in the Canary Islands via our Holiday
Villa Select homepage. You will not be disappointed.
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