The wise men They are getting closer on their way to Spain and the Islands Canary Islands. The artisan markets of Santa Cruz and La Laguna can be two good places to collect gifts. These are two initiatives of the Tenerife Council, through the Insular Craft Company. This has launched from January 2 to 5 the XXVI Crafts Fair in Reyes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the XV Christmas Craft Market in La Laguna.
While the Santacrucero enclave brings together 46 artisans in the central prince square –who offer 24 different artisanal modalities–, in La Laguna Adelantado Square 29 artisans gather with 19 areas of work. Both fairs will remain open from January 2 to 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., while on Friday the 5th it will extend its hours until 12:00 a.m.
«This is a good fair», José Luis Santos expressed late this Tuesday morning in La Laguna, from his Artesanía Raíces del Teide position. This artisan from La Orotava is dedicated to wood and, in particular, turning. He already has experience in this exhibition that is held every year in the City of the Advanced. And, as he indicates, he has been in all editions except the first. He also highlights that he tries to come with “exclusives.” «I am everywhere; Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera… », he points out in relation to his activity during the rest of the year.
While he specializes in lumber, other positions encompass very different modalities, such as pottery, patchwork, carpentry, chandlery, fabric decoration, enamels, felting, crochet, jewelry, toy making, macramé, leather goods, fashion, doll making, glass making, traditional carpentry, weaving and openwork.
Near the booth Jose Luis Santos There is Abrazos de Barro, by Roberto Carlos Hernández. Although dedicated to traditional craftsmanship, it also adds a cutting-edge touch. His love for ceramics began by chance in 1996 when he started working at the Casa Tafuriaste Museum, in La Orotava. “Over the years I acquired knowledge and concerns,” he says. His workshop is located in La Orotava, on the road to the Teide. Also in his case he has participated in several consecutive editions of this Christmas fair.
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Davila; the first lieutenant of mayor of La LagunaBadel Albelo, and the Vice-Minister of Communication of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jonathan Domínguez, led the institutional delegation that visited the Plaza del Adelantado stalls this Tuesday. Along with them, other political representatives and, in particular, the counselor of Employment and Education, Efraín Medina, a wide expert in the artisan world and who successfully led the group through the fair.
Boost to the artisan sector
«We are very proud to have a new edition of this initiative that takes place in Santa Cruz and La Laguna. From the Cabildo we are once again promoting the artisan sector, linking it with many innovation, development and creativity activities. We encourage people to visit the fairs and buy those details that are unique and made here, in Tenerife, by our artisans,” explained the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila.
The nationalist also emphasized that they are pieces “made with hands” and that it is “the work of our people who, at the end of the day, are also entrepreneurs, self-employed, to whom this space offers the possibility of being closer to the people on a very important date.” And he added: “It is a gift that is unique, that is exclusive and that has enormous value.”
Dávila highlighted that these initiatives create “connection” between sellers and buyers. «From the Cabildo we have a policy linked to fashion, craftsmanship and everything that has to do with innovation, creativity, digitalization… Today what we expect is that there will be an absolute packed house, both in the Plaza del Príncipe and here in the Plaza del Adelantado» , he stated. «We will be there from day 2 to 5; so until the last moment you can buy that special detail of craftsmanship made here in Tenerife,” invited the island president.
For its part, Badel Albelo, He valued this initiative as “a great opportunity to show the talent and work of professionals in this sector, in addition to promoting the acquisition of local products and contributing to the revitalization of the city during these Christmas shopping dates.” As he said, “for La Laguna it is a pleasure to give this space to this craft fair because it represents added value on these important dates.”
Jonathan Dominguez He highlighted that these fairs have become “a tradition within what Christmas is in Santa Cruz and La Laguna.” And he continued: «They are initiatives of the Cabildo of Tenerife, which is strongly committed to the artisans in our land, and from the regional Government what we do is support. In this case, this initiative that is developed in Laguna is a reference at this time. “I am a Lagunero and, therefore, I know this tradition very well in the municipality and it is always appreciated.”
“I love coming because there are always super nice things,” said Luisa Díaz, who was going through some positions. «It’s not that I came specifically for this; “She didn’t even know it was open today, but since I was doing some shopping in La Laguna and I saw it, I came,” she said. “Every year I remember that I can give something from here when I pass by and see that the stalls are set up,” said this resident of Santa Cruz, who had dedicated the morning to shopping in Aguere.
From fabrics to macramé
In the XXVI Kings Crafts Fairlocated in the Plaza del Príncipe, there are 24 artisanal modalities, such as patchwork, carpentry, ceramics, fabric decoration, bookbinding, felting, crochet, printing and engraving, soap making, jewelry, toy making, macramé, leather goods, modeling, fashion, doll making , paper and cardboard, recycling of materials, traditional costumes, wood turner, traditional pottery, cigars, rosettes and openwork.
The mayor of Santa Cruz, Jose Manuel Bermudez, indicated that they are “happy to have a fair that the Cabildo traditionally holds in our city, which is the Three Kings Fair, where the participants present the best of their products so that we can always have some artisan detail.” And he added about this quote: “This helps us not only have another shopping point, but also animates our city because many people are going to come here to walk and enjoy the crafts.”
He general director of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries of the Government of the Canary Islands, Cristóbal de la Rosa explained that the objective of this institution is to “constantly support all those industries that are based on a prior process of creativity.” In his opinion, “collaboration with other administrations is important when it comes to reinforcing the role of creativity in a series of industries that, often, we do not link to culture but that are an inextricable part of it.”
