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May 2026 | Gazette Life | 3ContentsEd's letterI%u2019m always amazed by the sheer variety and strangeness of these islands. Over the years I%u2019ve found myself surrounded by flowers in a fairy tale forest in La Gomera, looking at the silver dome of La Palma%u2019s telescope on the soaring heights of the Roque de los Muchachos, lost among in the brightly painted houses spilling down the hillside of Las Palmas, and crawling through a tiny volcanic tunnel in Lanzarote. I%u2019ve seen dolphins, turtles, stick insects, tree frogs, flying fish, praying mantises and vultures. I%u2019ve watched a priest bless a new car with holy water in Fuerteventura, been chased by the Diabletes in Teguise and seen countless carnivals, fiestas and processions. I%u2019ve drunk goat-milk wine in a farmer%u2019s kitchen, eaten figs picked from the tree, caught and cooked a tuna fish and feasted at public barbecues. A few years ago, I met a Canarian nationalist, one of the hardcore separatists who still believe that the islands should be an independent state, who said he disagreed with the celebration of Canary Day.%u201cEvery day should be Canary Day%u201d, he told me. In his opinion, being an autonomous region under the control of Spain was nothing to celebrate, and the focus on local music, traditions and food on May 30th was lip service to a culture that should be part of everyday life, and which is gradually disappearing.It%u2019s true that tradition is under threat - these days, Canarians prefer football to Canarian wrestling, and are as likely to support Barcelona or Real Madrid as they are their smaller local teams. I%u2019ve heard teenagers calling each other %u201cbro%u201d when they would have said %u201cchacho%u201d twenty years ago.This is nothing new, though %u2013 local culture has been changing under outside influences for centuries. The amazing thing is how closely it%u2019s been guarded, and how some of the most ancient traditions remain alive. Celebrating Canarian culture is also a question of attitude. If you go out and look for it, you can still find it, and by doing so you help keep it alive. Enjoy the celebrations on May 30th, but try to celebrate Canary Day every day.Published ByCANARY ISLAND IMPACT SERVICES S.L.Apartado de Correos (PO Box) 27 35510, Puerto del Carmen, T%u00edas.LanzaroteCif: B76362367DEPOSITO LEGAL: GC 786-2015EMAIL CONTACTSEDITORIAL: editorial@gazettelife.comADVERTISING: advertising@gazettelife.comCLASSIFIEDS: classified@gazettelife.comSOCIAL MEDIA: digital@gazettelife.com+34 928 093 823 +34 621 274 473www.gazettelife.comWhilst we make every effort to ensure that material published in the magazine is decent, legal and accurate, it can take no responsibility for any damage or loss which might arise as a result of material published herein. We are not responsible for third party advertisers within the magazine. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or the editor.Regulars06 Local News08 Island Info18 Crossword22 Ed's Postbag32 Recipe40 Maps50 Property70 Football73 Marketplace75 Classifieds 78 Tide Times/Weather Watch79 Tel Numbers81 HoroscopesGAZETTE LIFE EVERY DAY IS CANARY DAYMay 2026