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May 2026 | Gazette Life | 15Canary Day often taking centre stage. There are three main genres %u2013 the lively isa; the courtly fol%u00eda, derived from ancient Spanish fandangos and boleros; and the solemnly beautiful malague%u00f1a. You%u2019ll hear the sweet sounds of Canarian folk music everywhere around Canary Day. FOOD AND DRINKFood is always a part of Canary Day, when local dishes such as papas arrugadas, mojo sauces and the staple toasted maize meal called gofio take centre stage. Fresh and dried fish, fruits, vegetables and dairy products are all an essential part of the diet of the islands, and celebratory meals such as the one-pot sancocho (fish stew) or puchero (meat stew) are often served. The aroma of the marinated pork that is grilled for carne fiesta will permeate the air, and, of course, there%u2019ll be plenty of locally produced wine to help the celebrations along. SPORTS AND PASTIMESCanarian wrestling is the most popular Canarian sport, a noble and ancient form of combat that takes place in sandy arenas. Other pastimes that date back to pre-conquest times include palo, a martial art using wooden staffs, and the salto de pastor, a spectacular method of descending from steep hillsides by planting a long wooden stick and sliding down it. Other sports and games have arrived from Europe and developed local variations, such as Canarian bowls, vela latina sailing and handball. EVENTSEvery municipality and major town on Lanzarote will hold celebrations for Canary Day. These usually involve folk concerts, exhibitions of local sports and food tastings. However, details are not usually published until fairly close to the day itself, so keep an eye on www.gazettelife.com for updates.