| 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. |
