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24th Newsletter Edition - December 2007
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Christmas is almost upon us and before we go any further, we´d like to wish you a very happy one from all of the team at Tenerife Property Shop! Traditions change and evolve, and our first article takes a look at how many of us now spend our festive season. In contrast, `Christmas Tenerife Style´, our third article, looks at how the season is celebrated here. And while we are all celebrating, we take a look at the economic situation and apply a bit of common sense amidst all the economic speculation. And as usual, we take a look at news cuttings from the press and bring you the newest instructions, the best bargains and the cream of properties in Tenerife  Yuletide Meltdown
The spirit of Christmas past has long been replaced by the spirit of Christmas presents. Traditions change. We are no longer content with just an orange or an apple in our stockings, our expectations have moved on. Even more fruitless is the annual hope for a white Christmas; the yuletide colour scheme is almost certainly going to be a dismal grey.
It´s no wonder that millions of us have traded the prospect of centrally heated claustrophobia with the delights of basking in splendid sunshine. In years to come, our children will consider this a vital part of their Christmas tradition, and the annual exodus to the sun will be as pivotal a part of the festive season as Father Christmas. Who by then will have ditched the reindeer in favour of a jet ski.
A sunny Christmas is a major reason why many of us have bought a home from home in Tenerife;. There are some parts of our traditions that many of us are loathe to part with, and the privacy and security of a family home is one of them. Hotels may provide a beautiful backdrop, but the sight of Uncle Burt snoring off his turkey on the hotel sofa is probably best kept private. And in a hotel you would have to tolerate him, even if he´s not your uncle.
Another reason why the holiday home has become a necessity for many is because of stress. The efforts of organising a holiday, finding accommodation, and dealing with the cost of the holiday are proving to be so stressful that, according to a recent Natwest survey, three in ten people buy a property abroad just to avoid the anxiety. And that´s not to mention the annual shopping frenzy that has become a hallmark of the season. Many of us approach complete meltdown by the time the twenty fifth comes. No, far better to escape it all, and relax in the peace of your own home from home.
For Tenerife home owners, Christmas has once again become a delight. You can spot them swanning through the airports with only the lightest of hand luggage. They are probably the ones who still have a tan from their last short break here: Tenerife has just been voted the best destination for a short holiday by travel agents. And once here, they can still enjoy their own family customs. That fairy that little Tommy fashioned out of Grandpas old toupee ten years ago, can still take pride of place on their tree. Uncle Bert may have been transplanted to the terrace to keep him out of earshot, but he is still in charge of making his own recipe for highly combustible brandy sauce. And the whole family can enjoy a traditional Christmas dip in the pool.
So if you battled your way over here, bags akimbo, through the airport; if you paid through your nose for your accommodation; if had to accept your hotel´s version of a traditional Christmas; and if your stress levels are peaking when they should be plummeting... Perhaps you should consider following in the footsteps of the 42,000 Brits who already own a home in the land of eternal spring. It´s easier than you think and few resolutions will have such a positive effect on your new year.
Weather the Storm with a Home in the Sun Looking at the global property markets, it is becoming apparent that the world is in for a stormy time. As the turbulent seas of global finance slosh investor capital hither and thither, the upshot for individuals is becoming increasingly uncertain. The sensible recourse is to seek the placid waters of a safe harbour in which to weather the storm.
In the UK, property prices reported a decline in values last month. All of Europe is slowing down and mainland Spain more than most, reporting a growth of only 5% over the last 12 months. The depressed U.S. market is...Depressing! Even the emerging markets, those darlings of so many investors, are struggling. We hear news that as sales have dropped off in Bulgaria, some developers may be caught with their pants down and some developments may take a lot "longer than expected" to complete. That’s PR-speak for "the developer´s run out of money and can’t complete until some more people buy." The rest of Eastern Europe is experiencing a slowdown, and the implications are going to be similar. Experience shows that emerging markets have a nasty habit of sinking before they are eventually come back up for air, and the economic weather conditions look like they are going to be in for floods in the near future.
So where can we turn for some accurate meteorological advice as the storm clouds gather round? Our economic weather men have already let us down. Indeed, it is those shiny suited bankers who have brought on the storm clouds, hoping to turn a quick buck and pundits in the press who just seem prepared to jump on any bandwagon that passes. The time has come to apply a little bit of common sense, to take a step back and look past the speculators hype; it´s time to sweep away the maybes, the´future prospects´, e bright dreams and get down to the nitty gritty of what constitutes real value.
Real value is what you can see right now. It´s not guessing that if x happens then people are bound to want to buy there, and so prices will go up. X may not happen. If economies slow down, a lot of x plans are going to be shelved until they get going again. Reel back the optimism, and get real! If we are looking for a safe harbour, then we need solid rock, not a paper castle of hope and speculation.
So what is real, tangible and sensible? Quality of life is real. The sun shining every day is real. Thousands of people moving to Tenerife - that´s real too. Tenerife has changed, we are no longer package holiday and lager lout heaven. That´s already happened. The shiny new shopping centres, the five star hotels, the theme parks, the beaches… the weather! Tenerife already has it all. It requires no crystal ball gazing, no imagination and no speculation. We live here and our quality of life is immeasurably higher than it was in the UK and Ireland, from where we originate. We are already part of Europe, swaddled in the comfort zone that it provides. We don’t deal in maybes, don’t rely on ´X´es, and that’s why so many people buy property here and come to the island to settle and make a new life. It´s why so many millions come here to spend their two weeks of holidays - they can rely on the sun. They can rely on Tenerife.
So although prices rise in Tenerife at a rate above the mainland, don´t let that persuade you to buy here. Instead look at the real value of what the island has to offer. If you, like so many of us, are convinced that property in Tenerife is good value for money, then buy one. If you prefer instead to take a gamble on the high seas, then Tenerife is not for you. Tenerife is a stable market and a safe harbour to weather the economic storm. Our sun will be shining next year, the year after and the year after that. And you, as well as many millions of others, will want to come here and enjoy it.
Christmas Tenerife Style 
We continue our series about moving to and living in Tenerife with an insight into our local culture. Just as important as knowing about tax, health, schools and suchlike is an understanding of what is happening around you, and Christmas is the perfect example of where our cultures differ. Some would say that the way in which Christmas is celebrated here is closer to the roots of this religious, rather than the blatant commercial extravaganza that many of us have become accustomed to. Indeed, churches here can be packed day and night.
Unlike many other places in Europe, Christmas lights do not go up in Spain until December. In recent years retailers, such as those in the Safari Centre in Las Américas, have started the earlier, more in line with the UK and Ireland, but this is motivated more by creeping commercialism rather than tradition.
The first major Christmas tradition is the state-run lottery which is drawn on December 22nd. 'El Gordo' (the Fat One) is one of the largest lotteries in the world and rather than having one all out winner and a few runners up, El Gordo creates thousands of winners every year.
For most Tinerfeños, there are three main stages to Christmas, starting with Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) which is very much a family affair. The evening may start at home but often ends up with a party in a hotel, club or disco with friends and family. It is likely that every generation of the family is represented.
The family Christmas Eve meal is one of the most important meals of the year for a Spanish family and there is, of course, a traditional fare to be enjoyed. Seafood is high on the list for the meal and prices tend to go through the roof at this time of year. First on the menu is likely to be dishess of cold shellfish and cold cuts of meat. This may be followed by soup then baked besugo (Bream) with potatoes followed by roast lamb or suckling pig. Game is another option although turkey is becoming popular. The meal will be complemented with Cava, Spain's excellent sparkling wine. At the same time, trays of Christmas cakes and sweets will be served. The important sweets are turrón and marzipan. Turrón is a nougat made of toasted sweet almonds and has been made for over five centuries. A visit to any supermarket will tempt you with a huge variety of these sweets.
After the meal the adults will then exchange presents. The children will usually only receive a small gift. At midnight, some people will go to the Midnight Mass at the church. Others may stay at home and open a bottle of cava to celebrate the birth of Christ. Some children go Carol singing and the youngsters may go to bed whilst the adults go out and party until dawn.
Every town and most churches will have a 'belen' which is a nativity display. Some of them are very impressive and can cover massive areas. Some are animated and illuminated and draw huge crowds.
Christmas Day is a fiesta day so all banks and shops are closed, probably to recover from the night before. Christmas Day in Spain is one of the quietest of the year. Anyone wanting to eat out on this special day will have to book well in advance.
The next important day is the 6th January or Three Kings Day (Los Reyes). This is the day that the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem, it is also the most important day for the children as the Three Kings in effect replace Father Christmas for Spanish children (although Santa is becoming popular). They arrive overnight on the 5th January, riding horses and leave presents for the children. Parents encourage children to write to the Three Kings with their gift requests.
Every town and city will have a procession on the night of 5th January where tons of sweets will be thrown from the passing floats, much to the joy of the children (and adults).
On the 5th also, a special cake is made and sold called Rosca de Reyes. It is a ring-shaped pastry, covered in sugar and fruit flavoured jellies… but take care because it will also contain plastic toys and small presents! Just like finding a coin in our Christmas pudding, finding one of these presents is a sure sign of good luck in the New Year.
New Year's Eve is big in Spain and on New Year's Eve it is the tradition to wear red underwear… but they have to be bought for you by someone else!
Many towns organise street parties with entertainment and firework displays that last all night. Everywhere, there will be music and dancing and the wearing of the usual party outfits. At the stroke of midnight it is tradition to eat 12 grapes - one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the New Year. |
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Tenerife Property Shop Rentals by the Owner
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