World Travel Guides

elO Festivals

• How To Travel All Over The United States
• Oil Painting Techniques, How to Oil Paint
• A Guide For Gay Men To Seduce Straight Men

-Revetla de Sant

Antoni Abat

One of Mallorca's most unusual festivals, in honour of St Anthony, the patron saint of pets. For two days in January in Sa Pobla, pets are led through the town to be blessed outside the church. Elsewhere, dancers drive out costumed devils, Festa de Sant to ensure harmony during Jaume

the coming year, and everyone circles bonfires and eats spicy pastries filled with spinach and marsh eels. ® 16 Jan • Raima, Sa Pobla, Muro and elsewhere

B-~ Maundy Thursday

Setmana Santa (Holy Week) in the capital city is observed by a solemn procession of some 5,000 people parading an icon of the crucified Christ through the streets. ® Mar or Apr • Raima

-Good Friday

Many Mallorcan towns have processions during Holy Week. The Calvari steps in Pollenga are the scene of a moving re-enactment, the Davallament (the Lowering) each Good Friday, when in total silence a figure of Christ is removed from a cross and carried down the steps by torchlight. d Mar or Apr • Poiienga & elsewhere

Blessing of the Crops

The blessing takes place at the Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura, near Algaida. It possibly dates from the time of Ramon Llull, who founded the original hermitage in the 13th century. ® 4th Sun after Easter • Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura

~ Festa de Nostra Senyora de la Victoria

Port de Soller is the venue for a mock battle between Christians and Moors, in commemoration of a skirmish in which Arabic corsairs were routed in 1561. Expect lots of rowdy, boozy fun, brandishing of swords and the firing of antique guns. ® Around 9 May • Port de Soller

-Corpus Christi

Participants dress up as eagles and perform the Ball dels Aquiles ("Dance of the Eagles") in Pollenga's town square. What exactly this has to do with the miracle of Transubstantiation during Holy Communion is not really explained, thus scholars suspect the celebration's origins are pre-Christian. ® Jun • Pollenga

-Dia de la Virgen del Carmen

This celebration of the patron saint of seafarers and fishermen takes place in various coastal settlements. Boats are blessed, torches are lit (as at Port de Soller), and sailors carry effigies of the Virgin. ® 15-16 Jul • Palma, Port de Soller, Coionia de Sant Pere, Portocoiom, Cala Rajada & other ports

Christians fighting Moors, Port de Soller

Festa de Sant Jaume

James is celebrated with the usual summer highjinks, including folk dancing, fireworks and parades, featuring an icon of the saint and various religious symbols. s> Last Sun in Jul »Alcudia

0Mare de Deu dels Angels

Another, even longer battle between the Christians and the Moors, this time in Pollenga.The town spends a whole year preparing for the event, in which hundreds of youths dress up. «> 2 Aug • Pollenga

Nativitat de Nostra _Senyora

Beginning in the town of Alaro, a pilgrimage celebrating Mary's birth heads up the mountain to the hilltop shrine dedicated to the Virgin. The shrine is located near the Castell d'Alaro and has spectacular views. ® 2nd week of Sep • Alaro

Revetla de Sant Antoni Abat a. h

Revetla de Sant Antoni Abat

Top 10 Figures in Religious History _Lluc

—An legend recounts that over 700 years ago, an Arab boy named Lluc, recently converted to Christianity, discovered the effigy of the Madonna at Lluc (see pp26-7).

_The 13th-century mystic founded several religious observances on the island.

_Knights Templar

—A rich and powerful brotherhood of Christian military monks (see p90).

_Inquisition Judges

The hated Inquisition was introduced to the island in 1484 and led to the burning alive of at least 85 people between 1484 and 1512.

Xuetes

The name given to the Jews who were coerced by the Inquisition into converting to Catholicism.

Important 18th-century missionary, born in the town of Petra (see p122).

Santa Catalina

_The island's only homegrown saint, Santa Catalina Thomas was born in the 1500s in Valldemossa (see pp18-19).

Cardinal Despuig

The 18th-century cardinal developed the more opulent side of church life on the island (see p95).

Bishop Campins

The driving force behind the renewal of the monastery at Lluc as a pilgrimage site.

— Highly devout himself, the architect was responsible for the restoration of Palma Cathedral and other holy sites.

Most island festivals are religious in origin, but some celebrate famous victories, some food and others the arts to "(O

Left Ses [

» Right Palau de I'Almudaina Right Jardins d'Alfàbia

Left Ses [

» Right Palau de I'Almudaina Right Jardins d'Alfàbia

0 0