The Cabildo collaborates with La Laguna City Council for the celebration of the Tejina Hearts Festival
Representatives from the Tejina Hearts Association and the three iconic hearts of Calle Arriba, Calle Abajo, and El Pico attended today (Friday, 22) the collection and removal of the “fayas” in the La Tahona area
The Cabildo of Tenerife is collaborating with the La Laguna City Council for the celebration of the Tejina Hearts Festival, which will take place this Sunday, 24th August. Today (Friday, 22), the Councillor for Natural Resources, Blanca Pérez; the second Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Municipal Services and Citizens’ Participation, Fran Hernández; the Councillor for Festivals, Women, Equality, and LGTBI, Dailos González; and the Councillor for Tourism and Commerce, Estefanía Díaz, accompanied members and representatives of the Tejina Hearts Association and the three iconic hearts of Calle Arriba, Calle Abajo, and El Pico in the cutting and removal of the “fayas” in the La Tahona area.
Blanca Pérez stated that “the Tejina Hearts Festival is part of our identity, and this initiative ensures its sustainable continuity. Today, we have removed the branches and “fayas” to prepare the plant material that will cover the structure of the hearts, and we are convinced that the result on Sunday will be spectacular.”
Meanwhile, Fran Hernández highlighted, “it is important for us to preserve our traditions, especially this year, as we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Tejina Hearts Association. This festival has been recognised as a Cultural Asset of Interest (BIC) since 2003 and is a source of pride for all residents of La Laguna, rich in identity and culture, and it serves as a meeting point for thousands of people every year.”
Recovery of Montaña Fagundo
Blanca Pérez reminded us that the Cabildo of Tenerife is restoring Montaña Fagundo to convert it into a nature classroom that will host environmental education projects focused on reforestation and restoration throughout the area. The Insular Corporation, along with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the public enterprise ENAIRE (provider of air navigation and aeronautical information services), which has managed the 32-hectare space shared between La Laguna and Tacoronte, recently signed an agreement to carry out these actions.
The aim is to create a large public green space of 32 hectares, supporting a significant educational project with a nature classroom that will involve schoolchildren and associations. This initiative will establish an authentic biodiversity refuge in a strategically important location.
This agreement will allow for reforestation with native species throughout the estate following damage caused by a forest fire that burned more than 50% of its area in 2022. The nature classroom project will create a biodiversity refuge while developing various educational and environmental initiatives, such as replanting with species from humid thermophilic forests—especially the fayal—through volunteer campaigns, school activities, and work from professionals.
Tejina Hearts
The Tejina Hearts Festival, celebrated since the latter half of the 19th century, is one of the most deeply rooted cultural expressions on the island of Tenerife. Its significance warranted its designation as a Cultural Asset of Interest in 2003. The Tejina Hearts are a testament to popular culture that blends festivity with religious fervour, featuring important elements of high ethnographic and anthropological value. The festival takes place in Tejina around 24th August (the feast day of San Bartolomé), and each year it proudly showcases those beautiful banners that proclaim its beauty and uniqueness.
