Canary Islands Day when traditional games in Spain returned to a Garachico school

On 30 May Canary Islands Day is celebrated in Tenerife but the fun got off to an early start this year because the official day fell on a Saturday so many schools held their festivities on the Friday beforehand. So it was at CEIP Antonio del Valle Menéndez school in Garachico where I had worked until the end of April.

I went along to visit the children and the teachers again that I had worked with not long ago and it was a glorious sunny day, just right for celebrating such an occasion. When I had been at the school the PE teacher Omar and the English teacher Goretty had held a much smaller but very successful event in the gymnasium earlier in the year that featured traditional games. This time some of those games made their return but on a much bigger scale and this time because of the glorious weather it all took place outside.

Many parents and relatives of the children turned up to watch and the playground was the ideal place to celebrate it all. Traditional games like the sack race, skipping, tug-of-war and watch-your-step were played, and actually I was to learn what the last fun activity was called.

One of the girls called Zuleyma asked me what it was In English. I felt a bit daft but I had to admit I didn't know, and I still don't know what the wooden-block-like footwear used in this game are called in my own language. Zuleyma went to ask Goretty and she said the game was mind-your-step or watch-your-step.

Goretty told me what the crazy shoes were in Spanish and I think she said "cancos" so I looked that up in my dictionary when I got home but it wasn't there. Maybe it is a Spanish game with an English name? Anyway I had never seen it before but I know one thing for certain, if I ever have to wear shoes like that I would definitely have to watch my step!

All the children and staff of the school were wearing the colourful Canary Island costumes and looked amazing. I fancy getting one of the fancy red embroidered waistcoats myself and although I am not from here I feel like Tenerife is my home now.

Besides the traditional games there was traditional music too as well as dancing. There was a band of musicians and some of the children sang songs accompanied by the group.

My Spanish isn't good enough to understand the song lyrics but it didn't matter at all. I was simply enjoying the colourful spectacle of it all and it was so good to see everyone again.

Luckily I had my camera with me and got to take a lot of photos of the event at which everyone had a wonderful time. People on Tenerife certainly know how to have a good time and Canary Islands Day is a major cause for celebration.