Next Friday, January 20, The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2023 starts. It is one of the earliest editions in the history of the festival, and also one of the most special, due to its long-awaited and desired. It is the first Carnival after the pandemic, without restrictions, with all the acts, and with the street at 100%. It is also the first of mayor of santa cruzJosé Manuel Bermúdez, in this mandate, which in terms of years in charge of the capital’s City Council, it can be said that he has already had a few carnivals.
Bermúdez admits that this is going to be a “special” Carnival because what makes it different, even if it seems like a contradiction, is normality. The mayor is clear that if this edition is possible it is thanks to the workers of the Autonomous Organization of Fiestas, to whom, he says, “I want to pay tribute to each one of them because they have been able to put on a Carnival in June and only six months later they are working piecemeal to get the one for 2023 ”. In these interviews, the mayor reviews some of the milestones of the chicharrera party par excellence and what he expects from the 2023 edition.
-What can the chicharreros expect from this Carnival of normality, as some have baptized it?
“The truth is that this is the first great news, that we can celebrate Carnival with its traditional format, without any type of restriction. We have celebrated a virtual Carnival two years ago, in June of last year we celebrated another one because the restrictions did not allow us to do it in February, and now, finally, we return to the format that had not been held since before the pandemic. That’s the big news. I perceive that it is going to be a massive, successful Carnival, with great participation both day and night, I think it will be the one that returns to normality”.
-Economically, it will also be a great boost…
“If we look at how Christmas has gone, we can already get an idea of what Carnival can mean at an economic level, at a level of business confidence, of entrepreneurship…. The Christmas and Three Kings period has gone very well, with great participation and people on the street. If the Carnival follows the same path, I am convinced that it will be a success from all points of view, at a promotional level and at an economic level. I think it will leave a large amount of money in the accommodation establishments in the capital, the taxi sector, many issues that are important to the city”.
-In these two years without Carnival and the return to a normal one, the seams are being seen in a party that always goes to the limit. What do you think needs to be improved so that it doesn’t get stuck?
“If there is a challenge for the next mandate, it is to modernize the organizational structure of the Carnival. We need a more agile structure from the organizational point of view, and in this I want to pay tribute to each of the workers of the Autonomous Organization of Festivals and Recreational Activities, those who are now, who are giving their all with less time than in other years, but also to all those who are no longer here because they have also made the party great. But it is necessary to make a leap to an administrative structure that facilitates their work”.
-The Councilor for Fiestas (Alfonso Cabello) has ever suggested that he have his own management body outside of Fiestas as a solution…
“Carnival already has an Autonomous Organization, where 90% is Carnival, but I do believe that we must insist on something specific for the party, which makes its management more agile. It can be improved with a more agile administrative structure”.
-Another hallmark is the Casa del Carnaval, which, at times, is too small. Is there a plan to look for another site?
“The current site is quite central, and when we inaugurated it we already said that we have to go to an extension of the building, which allows it to be expanded, and have a second floor of the Casa del Carnaval. Maybe we have to go to that enlargement quickly. But the truth is that in its current location it has allowed us to have a place to organize things from both a public and private point of view, where everyone who comes to Santa Cruz can get a little idea of what Carnival is. Our party is as important as it is, and there is no doubt that if we expanded it we would have more options. So it is a clear proposal to expand the house of Carnival”.
-Another recurring question is whether Carnival can aspire to be a World Heritage Site, something that you are not very much in favor of…
“What I am saying is that our Carnival has been declared of International Tourist Interest, and if we wanted to give it some other title that has to do with the protection of Carnival we have to value very much what we want to protect, because the problem is that in the future would not allow us to make modifications to the Carnival. I always give the same example, and it is that of the Daytime Carnival, which 25 years ago was not an option, and which was a modification of the traditional, and which was an advance. So it is very important to be clear. I am not saying that we do not present ourselves to that, but that the level of protection must be compatible with the evolution of the Carnival and what the people ask for ”.
-In relation to the town, already in 2022 there was a threat from some neighbors to denounce the celebration of the party in the center. What is your opinion of these positions?
“The contests and galas have been held at the Fairgrounds, so all this movement was removed from the center. In addition, an agreement was reached on the idea of limiting the music, which is maintained, so that on the weakest days it turns off at five in the morning, and on the loudest at six. This has been maintained very clearly, and the cleaning of the streets on Carnival days has been greatly improved, and part of it is the security plan that puts all the resources available to us from the Local Police on the street. Of course it can always be improved, but we cannot jeopardize the celebration of Carnival in the street that has days and nights. In any case, no one has asked me for a meeting to address this issue, and I just want to convey that we are open to listening and talking about this issue and any other that concerns the neighbors.
-What do you think of the commitment to the most typical music of Carnival with artists like Óscar de León or La India?
“This year the most important is the Carnival itself, and we all know that it has very special music, with authentic hymns that have been sung by different artists, and I think that everything that is being prepared has to do with that, with rescuing many of those songs and also combine them with Canarian artists and orchestras from here so that Carnival shines”.
-What atmosphere is being found in the visits to the groups?
“I am seeing a great desire to return to things as usual, also a lot of trouble for the groups, because the June celebration has forced everyone to get their act together and rehearse more intensely. In general I think things are going well and most of them will arrive in good shape.
