The December Long Weekend (Friday the 6th and Sunday the 8th) is among the most eagerly awaited occasions of the year. On this occasion, we residents of the Canaries miss out on a day of festivities, as Sunday does not roll over to Monday. However, that does not imply that people refrain from stepping out to complete their shopping.
Indeed, of the holidays and extended weekends throughout the year, this might be the moment that sees the highest number of individuals anticipating the commercial openings to kick off or carry on with their Christmas shopping.
The Sunday openings in the Canary Islands are regulated by the regional authorities. Altogether, there are 10 days each year, and in Tenerife, they are scheduled as follows: January 7, March 28, October 12, November 1, December 1, 6, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2024.
This means that all supermarkets across the island could operate during the December Long Weekend. But will this truly be the case? Typically, given that it’s mid-December and Christmas shopping is in full swing, one would expect it to be so; however, this isn’t always the reality, and exceptions exist. Here’s a rundown of which prominent supermarket chains will be open this weekend:
Carrefour
The Carrefour supermarkets typically operate on Sundays and recognised holidays, and this time will be no exception.
The chain has already declared that it will be open on December 6 and 8, as well as on the remaining Sundays of the month. In fact, the only day it will close is Wednesday, December 25, Christmas Day.
Its opening hours will remain consistent during the long weekend, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can find the store locator for any queries through this link.
Alcampo
Similar to Carrefour, Alcampo will also operate over the December Long Weekend at its usual hours (from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), including the other Sundays of the month. It is important to note that on the 24th and 31st (Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, respectively), there will be special hours from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mercadona
While it may appear that the standard practice for such establishments is to be open most Sundays and holidays in December, Mercadona has its own policies. Consequently, as per tradition, this supermarket chain will remain closed on Sundays and holidays in December, and thus it will also not operate during the December Long Weekend. You can verify the opening hours of each store using their online search tool.
Lidl
The stores of Lidl plan to open as per their usual schedule, although it is advisable to check your local supermarket locator.
El Corte Inglés Supermarkets
The supermarkets of El Corte Inglés will also be open during the December Long Weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., though you can confirm their hours via the store locator.
Aldi
The Aldi supermarkets on this bridge in Tenerife will likewise open their doors, albeit with a special schedule. To ascertain the designated hours for each store, please utilise this search tool.