The Festes de Sant Agustí in Felanitx are in full swing. In fact, today is the main day, the saint’s day.

People not living in Felanitx might think that the main purpose of the Felanitx festivities are the novillas (bullfights) in the Felanitx Macarena (bullring). But, far from it.

Sant Agustí is the day of the penyas in Felanitx. The original Felanitx penya is the Penya El Coso de Felanitx, going back to the Eighties of last century. I understand that this penya was originally founded as an outlet to criticise or otherwise disapprove of the authorities such as politicians and the local administration. El Coso was also set up to celebrate the art of bullfighting.

The symbol of El Coso is Sa Quica, traditionally a live domestic cock, but in recent years the cock was replaced by a plastic replica, tied to a long pole.

In 2009, the traditional bullfights were not authorised. Instead, a live rooster was used again, in defiance of the by-law, albeit a somewhat bewildered, if timid cock. Sa Quica was held in a small cage placed on a velvet cushion and handled with great care. Let’s see what else El Coso have up their sleeves today to make up for the bulls that aren’t.

Other penyas have sprung up in Felanitx, too, over the years. Things have changed; not everybody is in favour of the bullfights any more and not every penya wants to criticise the authorities. Some penyas just want to have some fun and be out all day partying on their day off.

Without any doubt, the biggest penya by far is still the one of the Es Coso, even today. The autoridades are still there, here in Felanitx, in Mallorca and in Madrid, politicians that need to be reminded of the citizens’ considerations and welfare. And Felanitx still feels Mallorquín first, and Spanish only much later.

The photo (top) was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 28th, 2007. The time was 08:41:34. The photo (bottom) was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 28th, 2009. The time was 07:59:23.