Mallorca is the mix of all the adjectives that could describe how paradise is. It’s hidden coves, Majoran parties, infinite sunny days… We could make an incredible long list, but in this post we’d rather focus on the fun. Then, we’re leaving you a list with the top Majorcan Fests you can’t miss:
Es Firó de Sóller | Majorcan Fests
Es Firó de Sóller is a Majorcan celebration that already has more than 150 years. During this day people from Sóller celebrates the ancient victory of the Majorcans agains the Turkish Pirates.
According to the legend, on the first days of May 1561, Mallorca’s Viceroy, Guillem de Rocafull, sent two boats to Argelia’s coast, in the North of Africa, a zone that was an authentic refugee for many Turkish Pirates that were assaulting the Mediterranean Sea.
The Majorcans got to catch two pirates who confessed that an inminent atack in the balearic coas was preparing. A few days after, on Suday 11th May the pirates landed in Ses Puntes (1700-1800 aprox) who wanted to catch the village people while they were asleep. One detail they didn’t know whas the the Viceroy knew from that attack and had it all prepared.
The result was a clear victory for the people of Soller who, apparently, that day lost 6 men vs the Turkish Pirates who lost 211 men.
A few months before the celebration there’re elections to choose who’sgoing to play each part in Es Firó and many parts participate on it: Payesas, Payeses o Col·lectiu de Sant Ponç and Moros.
The Party Coordinator each May 11th, along to the 3 collectives and Soller’s City Hall are in charge to organize Es Firó. The festivities start the previous Thursday with the Inauguration of Les Vlentes Dones and the announcement at 20:00h in Sant Bartomeu’s church.
On Saturday at 17:00h in the Constitución Square, the Solemne Processó (Holy procession) and the trasport of the Virgin Mary to the Sant Bartomeu Church. After that the Colectivo de Payeses Sant Ponç 1561 rise their flag.
On Sunday at 23h, in the Mercat Square the Guns Vigil takes place along some “Habaneras” and burnt rum.
Sa Vermada Binissalem | Majorcan Fests
Binissalem is famous for its vineyars and to make honor to D.O Binissalem (designation of origin) that reunite 5 towns speciallized in wine. Some shows related to the harvest, grape contests, a parade… you won’t miss that in Binissalem parties.
This celebration’s program is quite wide and helds more than two weeks of parties where you’ll be able to enjoy expositions, concerts, teatre, book releases and all kind of festivities that spin around the harvest.
It’s a popular party which means that people participate a lot in it. One of its main days is the “Sopar a la fresca” where people have dinner in the street with all the neighbors and eat a very special dish, the “fideus de vermar”, a very ancient receip with Sheep’s meat as the main ingredient.
On the most curious and visited activities from this celebrations is in honor to Dyonisus (the harves’t Greek god). There’s a contest in town to check who’s best in stepping graves with different levels according to age. It’s a funny, familiar and entertaining event where everyone will enjoy!
La Patrona celebrations in Pollensa | Majorcan Fests
The celebrations in honour of La Patrona (Pollensa’s Saint) is a really ancient civic-religious celebration. Fireworks and church bells start this celebration that will last until August 2nd, day of “Mare de Déu dels Àngels” (their Patrona/Virgin Mary) with a wide range of activities for everybody (games, exhibitions, concerts…).
But the main central activity from this celebrations is the mock battle between Moors and Christians, celebrated on August 2nd, to remember the battle of the Pollentian against 1500 moors commanded by the pirate Dragut. This battle took place on May 30th 1550. Pollensa received that day the biggest pirate attack that has ever suffered.
The battle was won by the Christians thanks to Joan Mas, a man from the village that went to the Major street, warned everyone about the danger and starred the battle against the Moors. This mock was introduced into the celebrations program in the XIX century middles to remember this historical battle and keep it in the Pollentians mind.
In this battle the Christians wear white and the Moors wear really bright colors. The mock is announced at 5 am from August 2nd and, right after the main party in the square, when the band plays La Alborada (the himn of this celebration), everyone starts singing and celebrating that the day has arrived.
On that same day at 11 a.m. there’s a mass and the Cossiers dance (a traditional dance from Mallorca). At 7 p.m. the mock begins and lasts until 9.30 p.m when the Christians sing the Tedèum composed by Mossèn Miquel Tortell and the Càntic dels Goigs de Costa i Llobera. The celebration always ends with amazing fireworks.
Capdepera Medieval Market | Majorcan Fests
During May’s third weekend, commemorating Capdepera’s foundation by King Jaume 2nd in 1300, the town goes back til’ the Medieval Era.
The Medieval Market takes place in Capdepera’s Castle and closer streets to it. This popular celebration uses the castle as a claim.
The town goes medieval and is filled with lights, colours, sounds and smells that take us back to the Medieval Age. In the market there’re different craftsmen: herbalists, cobblers, carpenters, jugglers, shoemakers, magicians, embroiderers, sculptors, cheesemakers and potters, among many others.
Much de Sineu | Majorcan Fests
Fifteen years ago a group of friends from Sineu that used to get along for parties, decided to go have a friendly lunch together. They took a caparrot (a traditional dress that consists in a really big creature that represent real and fake characters of Majorcan ancient stories) dressed as The Demon of La Revolta de Vilafranca. This caparrot is the result of a revenge of a fight, a small fight against neighbour towns. They walked it through the street cheering people up and celebrating, til’ this turned into a symbol.
Next year three young ones from the town decided that Sineu should have its own demon. This way the most loved caparrot from Sineu was born: Lo Much.
El Much and La Muca
The moment that Sineu explodes is in the cry when the celebration is announced. It’s the moment when the Much appears in the city hall balcony and when hundreds of people get together to see its apparition.
There’s also another really important character in this party that was created a few years after Lo Much: its partner, La Muca. Nowadays this characters are represented for young people of the town that feel honored after being picked by popular vote.
And… why pink?
When the foreign visitors see the party, they think it’s about a Love parade or the Gay Parade. The reality goes really far from there.
When the young founders went to buy an identificative t-shirt, the pink one was the only one that had enough sizes for everyone so that was it. Nowadays it’s the colour that makes smile an entire town.
Sant Jaume en Alcúdia | Majorcan Fests
Alcudia is a Majorcan town full of history and tradition. We can find from Roman ruins to a really alive marina in Port d’Alcudia. To gather both concepts, party and tradition, Alcudia celebrates each year Sant Jaume by the end of July.
To celebrate it, all the streets get filled with lovely fringes that start giving some party feeling and people starts being more outside, so not strange seeing crowds in the different paths of Alcudia..
Pic: Fiestas de Mallorca
It’s tradition that there’re different parades with “caparrots” and giants, such as different art expositions, concerts and theatre.
In Alcudia, as you know, there’s the old Roman Town of Pollentia. Just by saying this, you can imagine the amount of history that this town has. To remember it, each year the Roman Party is celebrated. In it, people go dressed as romans and it’s remembered that, previously, they were a part of the great Roman Imperium.
During all night long people can enjoy a lot of different concerts and a different experience. Hope that, if you go there, you can celebrate it!
Sant Antoni en Sa Pobla | Majorcan Fests
Sant Antoni in Sa Pobla is one of the most traditionals and ancient holidays in Majorca. To celebrate it, during more than one week there are different cultural activities, concerts, spectacles and sportive activities, among others.
It’s very typical in these days eating Espinagada, a kind of big pie filled with eel or pork and cabbage that can be eat in any meal.
During Sant Antoni Eve, Poblerins (the name people from Sa Pobla receive) usually invite family and friends for dinner. The mentioned Espinagada is on the menu. Besides, all over town there are different bonfires (some public and some from the bars) so people that don’t know anyone in town can still try their food and sing Glosses (traditional songs from Majorca).
After this, thousand of people all over Majorca and from outside the island gather in the main square to admire the caparrots dance and the incredible fire show that is performed.
Once it’s finished, people continue enjoying the party in the square and in the different bars from the surroundings.
Santa Pràxedis en Petra | Majorcan Fests
Santa Pràxedis is Petra’s patron saint and, in her honor, every year celebrations are made to celebrate her.
These holidays are usually celebrated during June and last longer than a week. In them, you’ll be able to enjoy the different expositions, dances, sport tournaments and concerts.
Pic: Última Hora
Besides, it’s needed to say that one of the most important events of these festivities in Majorca are so named “clovellades”. In this party, and honoring the patron, around 5000 kg of almond shells are thrown among the assistants.
If you want to discover the interior of Majorca, Petra is, no doubt one of the towns that you must visit, ¡and more even where their festivities are being celebrated!
La Beata en Santa Margalida | Majorcan Fests
The first week of September La Beata fest is celebrated in Santa Margalida. Santa Margalida, more known as Sor Tomaseta, was an illustrious character very loved by the Majorcans.
In Santa Margalida this is a huge celebration and has a traditional nature. The fest lasts a weekend and, during this, there’re all kind of activities, both leisure both tradition.
On Saturday, a floral offering is made to Santa Catalina monument and, after that, the party starts with different music groups and a DJ. Finally, on Sunday, the official celebration of La Beata is made. This day is the most special day for the village people since, in the evening, they are dressed with majorcan typical clothes and gather to go get the different jars. There are a few parades and each one represents an episode of Santa Catalina’s life. These are accompained by music and xeremiers and go to make a route around town.
Amongst those parades there are different “pagesos” that grab a jar (each one on one side) and the demons, who steal the jars from the couples to break them in front of La Beata.
If you’d like to discover more about the different fests in Mallorca, don’t miss this post! We’ll be updating it and adding more fests due to the high amount of petitions you’re making. We highly hope you to enjoy Mallorca, no matter the season!
