Pollença is celebrating the annual Fiestas de la Patrona de Pollença. Festivities already started last Saturday, July 26th; activities will come to their high point and conclusion today, August 2nd.

The historic Moorish siege is thought to have taken place in 1550. Today you can watch the annual reenactment of this battle between Moors and Christians, Pollença style. The mock battle commemorates the victory of Pollença’s Joan Mas and his faithful followers, all dressed in white, defeating some 1,500 Moors led by the pirate Dragut. If I can make it out historically, it would not really have been the Moors at that time, but Saracens coming from what is now Turkey, or in any case Asia Minor. But that is neither here nor there. 

Activities started this morning at 05h00 with the Alborada. At 12h30, Cossiers will perform their Baile. At 18h00, an antique image of the town’s Patrona will be led on a procession through Pollença, and finally, at 19h00, the mock battle begins. A lot of alcohol flows during the Pollença festivities, and even more so, all day today. A fireworks spectacle will be staged at 24h00 in Vía Pollentia, but drinking will probably continue well into the night. 

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Pollença, Mallorca, Spain. The date: August 2nd, 2005. The time was 18:57:50.