Last Friday, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through the Autonomous Party Organization, inaugurated, as usual on these dates, the craft and gastronomy markets, in the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena, near the Plaza from Spain. Since then, many have been taking the opportunity to take a walk around the facilities, to find the perfect gift for Christmas, to taste typical products of our Islands and thus regain strength after a day of shopping.
Some markets that in this edition have exhaustive contingency plans to stop the contagion of the COVID-19 pandemic and that will be open to the public until next Thursday, January 6 and Sunday, January 9, respectively.
DIARIO DE AVISOS has entered these spaces to take a walk and see the more than 50 stalls that have been installed in this edition. It has been found that the security measures against the virus are respected and that there is a lot of desire to sell.
There are food stalls that are hard to resist. In them you can find Canarian products, sushi, crepes, sweets, coffee and wine, among other things. But, in addition, there are lectures on local products and cooking workshops, such as one on honey, which was held this weekend. All this, accompanied by music, dancers, acrobats and entertainment for the little ones.
CRAFTS
Almost at the beginning of the handicraft area we find Toni, who makes small Canarian houses and nativity scenes. But also pyrography, which are wooden pictures, engraved with an instrument that catches high temperatures, and which can take up to six hours to finish.
Toni, who has spent more than 40 years dedicating himself to the world of crafts, although only four participating in the Duke of Santa Elena market, assured that the first days “have been good” and that he hopes “to recover what was lost during the pandemic, because It has been very hard for us ”. He is convinced that the people are going to cheer up as the days go by and as the Kings approach.
Nayra is another of the artisans who sell in this market. He has also been attending for four years. He told DIARIO DE AVISOS that this first weekend was “super good” in terms of attendance, but “regular” in terms of sales. He says that the situation is always like that, because “people pass and look, take a walk, and decide to buy closer to Christmas Eve and Three Kings”. In his stall we find traditional handmade instruments. It sells drums, chácaras, castanets and also Canarian pottery. Products that this artisan says that “you see less and less in the markets, but that we continue to bet on it so that traditions are not lost.”
He acknowledges that the situation for artisans has been “very slowed down by the pandemic, but it is seen that people want to go out, buy and help.”
Tizziana helps the owner of Tela Mágica, a stall that sells hats, hoods, scarves and magic fabric. A product, the latter, reversible, that has a wire inside, and many uses. It is used to adorn the head, can be worn around the neck, and can even be used as a belt. “None of these products is the same as another, because they are all made with different fabrics,” says Tizziana, while doing a demonstration in front of the mirror, which quickly captures the attention of the visitors present.
His balance over the weekend is positive, because he assures that “a lot of people came to watch, but they were also encouraged to buy. Surely throughout these days we will continue to sell. We have come with a lot of material ”.
Finally, we meet Pedro, one of the young people whose star product is the bow tie, made with different types of fabric, with cork, and even with wood. All a novelty that draws a lot of attention, both men and women.
“My partner started making them because he couldn’t find a bow tie that he liked for the end of the year, and since he saw that people were interested in them, he continued to sell them to this day. And from there we started making Christmas masks, bags, suspenders, purses and boots. We are adapting to the situation ”, says this craftsman, whose work tools he says are“ the sewing machine and the thread ”. In fact, the machine was behind it, because they don’t stop creating.
It has been a few days, for Pedro and his partner at the stand, in which they have sold “quite well”, although they hope that, as these days go by, they will be able to sell even more.
A bet, that of artisans and hoteliers, as said a few days ago by the Councilor for Festivities of the Santa Cruz City Council, Alfonso Cabello, which serves so that all participants can carry out their Christmas campaign and carry out their companies.
From the morning there are people who are encouraged to visit the market. We asked Loli, who said that “I preferred to come today because I did not want to meet many people on the weekend. In addition, this year I am betting on helping people like artisans, who have had a very bad time ”.
Pablo, for example, was interested in a stand with very colorful clothes. “I’m looking for some gifts for my grandchildren, because I like to see them in bright colors.”
And Julia told DIARIO DE AVISOS that she always visits the market “because I find the perfect gift. I would rather give something that I know is handmade than something that is produced in a chain ”.
SCHEDULE
The craft market will be open every day, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on 24 and 31, which will close at 5 p.m. On December 25 and January 1, it will open from 12 noon to 10 p.m., and on Three Kings’ Eve, until 5 a.m.
For its part, the market dedicated to gastronomic products will remain open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., except on Sundays, which will open at 12 noon, and both Saturdays and Sundays, which will close at 1:00 a.m.
