Adeje celebrates All Saints' Day, blending local traditions and newer customs

Adeje Town Hall has scheduled special opening hours for the Municipal Cemetery to honour the deceased, along with organising leisure and cultural activities

28 october 2024
Adeje is preparing to celebrate All Saints' Day with a range of activities that blend local traditions and newer customs, often from other places, reflecting a sense of harmony among the municipality's more than 120 nationalities. As every year, the Municipal Cemetery will observe special opening hours to allow families to visit their loved ones. All times, including Mass services, are available on the website adeje.es (Spanish) and townhall.adeje.es (English).
 
The Town Hall has prepared the Municipal Cemetery for these special days, with recent maintenance across various areas, including cleaning, gardening, pruning, tree bed repair, and adding seasonal plants.
 
As every year, the chapel, the calvary, and the main courtyards will be decorated with floral arrangements, crafted in collaboration with local florists. Additionally, on 1 November at 6pm, there will be a mass in the main courtyard with a performance by the Santa Cecilia Choir from Tacoronte, followed by a blessing of the cemetery’s niches, a solemn and respectful ceremony honouring those who are no longer with us.
 
As part of activities that keep local traditions alive, the Adeje Municipal School of Folklore Group,  in conjunction with Adeje Town Hall,  will present the third edition of their theatrical performance, Pasos de Vida y Muerte (Steps of Life and Death). This event, on Saturday, 9 November at 7,30pm in the small square behind the Town Hall  building, is a performance inspired by customs, traditions, and rituals surrounding the 'Día de Finados' (Day of the Dead) in the Canary Islands, which have shaped our popular culture over generations.
 
The concept is the result of extensive research by the folklore group in 2020, and aims to convey the authenticity of these rituals and their cultural value. With respect and dedication, the group explores ancestral customs, reminding us of how past generations experienced mourning and farewells. This year's performance will also include new scenes and elements.
 
Elsewhere, the Adeje department of economic development has organised some Halloween-themed activities in La Postura, in partnership with the Piedra Redonda Residents' Association. This initiative aims to boost the local economy, providing an entertainment space to attract people of all ages, especially young people and families. The activities are happening on Thursday, 31 October, from 6pm to 10pm.  There will also be a haunted tunnel with virtual reality glasses in Plaza La Concordia, along with a separate haunted tunnel set up on the Tierra Lavada parking deck. Additionally, there will be makeup workshops and children's games.
 
With these activities, Adeje Town Hall hopes to see the public enjoying events that respect our Canary Island roots while embracing new forms of cultural expression.