| JANUARY |
Cabalgata
de los Reyes Magos (5 Jan): The Three Kings arrive
by boat in Palma to distribute gifts to the city's children.
Sant Antoni Abat (16-17 Jan): Processions of
pets and farm animals in Palma, Arta and Sa Pobla.
Sant Sebastia (19 Jan): Bonfires and barbecues
in Palma's squares |
FEBRUARY |
| Sa
Rua (final weekend before Lent): Carnival held in
Palma and elsewhere on the last weekend before Lent.
It is marked by bonfires, fancy dress and processions
of decorated floats in Montuiri the Carnival is known
as Darres Dies (Last Days). |
MARCH/ APRIL |
| Semana
Santa (Holy Week): A week of solemn Easter preparation
begins on Palm Sunday, when palm and olive branches
are blessed at churches across the island before being
taken home to adorn front doors. During Holy Week there
are processions every day in Palma; the biggest procession
is on Maundy Thursday. Other towns and villages have
their own processions too. On the evening of Good Friday
a figure of Christ is lowered from his cross in Pollenca
and carried down the Calvany steps in silence. A similar
event takes place on the church steps in Felanitx. |
MAY |
| Moros
i Cristians (8-10 May): Mock battles between heroes
and infidels in Soller, commemorating a 1561 battle
in which local women helped to defeat a band of Turkish
pirates. |
JUNE |
| Sant
Pere (28-9 Jun): Processions of fishing boats in
Palma, Port d'Andratx and Port d'Alcudia in honour of
the patron saint of fishermen. |
JULY |
Pa
Virgen del Carmen (16 Jul): Processions of boats
in the island's ports, including Cala Rajada, Port de
Pollenca and Port de Soller.
Santa Catalina Thomas (27-8 Jul): Homage to Mallorca's
patron saint in her home town of Valldemossa. |
AUGUST |
Sant
Bartomeu (24 Aug): Devil-dancing in Montuiri at
one of Mallorca's oldest festivals.
Sant Agusti (28 Aug): Cavallets dances in Felanitx,
with children dressed up as cardboard horses being chased
by giants to the accompaniment of bagpipes, flutes and
drums. |
SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER |
| Harvest
festivals including a melon festival in Vilafranca
de Bonany (second Sun in Sep), a wine fair in Binissalem
(last Sun in Sep), and a botifarro (blood sausage) festival
in Sant Joan (third Sun in Oct). |
DECEMBER |
| Festa
de l'Estendard (31 Dec): Palma commemmorates the
anniversary of the Christian conquest with a procession
from the town hall to Mass at the cathedral. |
