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All Spain Santa Cruz de la Palma Monumento a el Enano (Monument to the Dwarf)
AO Edited

Monumento a el Enano (Monument to the Dwarf)

A statue commemorating the island's tradition of dancing dwarves in Napoleon hats.

Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain

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The monument   Frank Vincentz/CC BY-SA 3.0
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
A dancer in costume   Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de La Palma//CC BY-SA 4.0
Tiles at base   unimoggers / Atlas Obscura User
  Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The monument   leo.laempel/CC BY-ND 2.0
Base   unimoggers / Atlas Obscura User
Cool staircase nearby   unimoggers / Atlas Obscura User
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About

La Palma is one of the more rural Canary islands, home to beautiful nature and massive telescopes. It is visited with a lesser frequency than other islands in the archipelago and as a result, many local traditions are strong and mostly unchanged to fit tourists. The largest of these celebrations is La Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves, or the "Descent of the Virgin of the Snows," celebrated once every five years. Outside of this narrow time slot, the event is commemorated with a statue. 

The celebration is focused around an effigy of the Virgin of the Snows, the patron saint of the island. Many events happen during the festivities, but the main attraction is the Danza de los Enanos (Dance of the Dwarves). The event as it is celebrated today dates back to 1833, but historians believe that the dance may date back as far as the 14th century. The look of the dwarves is thought to to be based on an 18th century lottery mascot called the lucky dwarf, as it also wore a large Napoleon hat. 

During the dance, participants walk into one side of a very small tent dressed as bishops then emerge from the other side as dwarves. Throughout the night the dancers perform their traditional steps while wearing their heavy costumes. There are varying interpretations of the dwarves and their dance. Some say that it is connected to fertility or the summer solstice, while others view it as a work of satire.

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Monuments Napoleon Bonaparte Festivals Tradition Dancing

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The monument is located on the square right across from the ship museum.

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CoolCrab

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Xavixavir, Michelle Cassidy, unimoggers

  • Xavixavir
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • unimoggers

Published

July 16, 2021

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Sources
  • https://www.revistabinter.com/2017/02/08/origen-del-gorro-del-enano-la-palma/
  • https://www.janetanscombe.com/news/la-danza-de-los-enanos-in-la-palma-a-once-every-five-year-chance-to-see-the-dwarves-dance.html
Monumento a el Enano (Monument to the Dwarf)
7 Calle Dr. Pérez Camacho
Santa Cruz de la Palma, 38700
Spain
28.688002, -17.761133
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Nearby Places

The Naval Museum of Santa Cruz de La Palma

La Palma, Spain

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Museo Insular de La Palma (La Palma Island Museum)

La Palma, Spain

miles away

The Colorful Balconies of Avenida Maritima

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

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The Naval Museum of Santa Cruz de La Palma

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