The Tenerife municipalities of Fasnia and Santiago del Teide will step back in time this weekend as they revive two traditional events that celebrate the island’s rural heritage and the resilience of past generations.
La Mudá in Fasnia and Al Paso de la Cumbre in Santiago del Teide recreate the journeys and customs that once shaped everyday life in southern Tenerife, preserving traditions that played a vital role in local communities throughout the last century.
La Mudá Returns to Fasnia
On Saturday, the Montañeros de Uzapa group will stage the 10th edition of La Mudá, an ethnographic recreation of the seasonal movement of livestock from the coast to the mountains in search of fresh grazing land.
The event follows a three-kilometre route at almost 1,000 metres above sea level, ending in the hamlet of Archifira. Along the way, participants dressed in traditional clothing will recreate the customs, tools and way of life of Tenerife’s shepherding communities during the mid-20th century.
The programme was officially presented this week alongside a display of historic photographs and the announcement of the second edition of the book La Mudá, Costumbre de un Pueblo.
Santiago del Teide Celebrates Rural Life
On Sunday, Al Paso de la Cumbre will pay tribute to the generations of islanders who travelled mountain paths carrying goods to exchange with neighbouring communities.
The living history event will feature villagers dressed as farmers, shepherds, milkmaids, bakers, pig farmers and even traditional witches, recreating the barter system that once helped sustain families across rural Tenerife.
Three meeting points have been organised for participants:
- San Francisco de La Montañeta (Garachico) at 10:00am
- San José de Los Llanos (El Tanque) at 11:30am
- Plaza de Santiago del Teide at 1:30pm
Both events offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the customs, traditions and rural history that continue to shape the cultural identity of Tenerife.