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Irapuato
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Orotava, Tenerife Corpus Christi Flower Carpets. janetartist on Aug 5, 2011More
Orotava, Tenerife Corpus Christi Flower Carpets.

janetartist on Aug 5, 2011
Irapuato
Corpus Christi in La Orotava
Every Year the city center of La Orotava in nothern Tenerife celebrates the festivities of Corpus Christi over several days. Since 1847 the over 500-meter-long loop road of the procession is ornamented with a carpet of flowers and coloured sand. The carpet contains a couple of pictures (tapicas) and pattern paints (corridores) which are filled with petals. The way is …More
Corpus Christi in La Orotava
Every Year the city center of La Orotava in nothern Tenerife celebrates the festivities of Corpus Christi over several days. Since 1847 the over 500-meter-long loop road of the procession is ornamented with a carpet of flowers and coloured sand. The carpet contains a couple of pictures (tapicas) and pattern paints (corridores) which are filled with petals. The way is divided- depending on local conditions – into approximately 50 chapters. The carpets are constructed by different groups and individuals (alfombristas) using models. Those groups are for example neighborhoods of different suburbs, schools, working groups. The individuals often posses a public charge or are public people of the city. They often design their chapter on their own, but get help from family and friends at preparing their chapter. Some chapters are created by traditional-resident families for which the participation and the activity in the community play an important role. Here and there, external or foreign groups are invited to participate in creating a chapter. The single chapters are bases on religious topics.
The town hall square which is located half way, shelters since 1912 a big picture of sand of over 900 square meters. The installation of this picture starts a month before Corpus Christi and needs about 2 000 kg of coloured sand. To prevent the picture to be spoiled by rain, the square is covered with a tarpaulin for several days. The progress of the work can be tracked by the public people from the upper end of the town hall stairs.
On the following sunday the ‘Romería de San Isidro’ takes place to celebrate the Holy Isidro el Labrador who is one of the patron saints of La Orotava. The peasants and peasant women process in their traditional costumes and with their animals and bands through the city.
www.tenerifeguide.com/corpus-christi-in-la-orotava