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canarybird
06-06-2013, 18:37
Today, June 6, 2013 is the day of the celebrated sand and flower carpets of Corpus Christi in the villa of La Orotava.

These have been documented and photographed by visitors from all over the world. And today I went up as I often do at this time of the year to marvel at the creation of these works of art and to take as many photos as I could manage. If anyone is not familiar with them, the celebrations of Corpus Christi are held at a later date than those of other municipalities in order to enable people from all over the island to see and participate in the fiesta.

The flower carpets are made from fresh flower petals, milled heather and in some cases, volcanic sand to fill in colours not available in natural flowers. The alfombristas, or carpet makers, are often whole families or generations which have learned the art and passed it on down.

The carpets of flowers are made on the same day as the religious procession which walks from the church over the carpets and ends at the city hall plaza, which has been decorated over a period of weeks by artists trained in sand paintings. The images created are made from natural coloured volcanic sands brought down from the mountain and drizzled loosely onto chalked outlines in an expert manner so as to form religious images.

After the procession from the church has assembled on this plaza by walking onto the sand images, there is a religious sermon from the upper balcony of the city hall. When it has finished the procession retires and the sand images are swept away until the following year when a new set of sand paintings are created.

Here are some of the photos (http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=29839694&AlbumKey=nzfjch) I took today just after noon in a slideshow of 15 images, ending with the delicious hot and sugary churros I bought from a street vendor while walking down to catch a ride home.

One of the flower petal carpets:

http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Arts-and-Crafts/Flower-Carpets/Alfombras-La-Orotava-2013/i-mP3zZ54/1/L/P1180939-L.jpg

One of the images of the sand carpets in the main plaza:

http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Arts-and-Crafts/Flower-Carpets/Alfombras-La-Orotava-2013/i-G5skzqd/0/L/P1180957-L.jpg

Canarybird

eltel
17-05-2016, 16:14
Hi, can anyone give me the date for this years Corpus Christi

canarybird
18-05-2016, 09:33
The events begin on May 31 and the day of the carpets is Thursday, June 2.

eltel
18-05-2016, 13:14
Thanks Canarybird. I had booked a hotel for June 2nd & then I was told the flower carpets are 26th May so Ive just changed my booking. The hotel was more expensive for 26th May so I assumed that was the correct date.

canarybird
19-05-2016, 08:21
http://www.secrettenerife.co.uk/p/corpus-christi-dates.html