Tomorrow, February 21st, Mallorca (and Spain) will celebrate the last day of Carnival. Ash Wednesday, on February 22nd, is the first day of Lent according to the calendar of Western Christianity, occurring 46 days before Easter. Lent in Mallorca is called Quaresma. An old lady plays a prominent role during the Mallorcan Lent; she is called Quaresma Vella (or Jaia Corema, Old Mother Lent). You can read about her in my previous blog entry.

On the night before Ash Wednesday, i. e. tomorrow night, the Mickey will be taken out of local authorities and in particular, the Catholic Church. A burlesque mock funeral will be held to bury the Sardina. The Confraria de Penitents de la Santa Sardina will organize the parodic festivity. In Felanitx, a funeral sermon will be held by the Reverendíssim Francesco Peretus Perruquectus della Piazza Pax.

Sardine burials will also be held in other Mallorcan pueblos, such as Manacor, Artà, Son Servera, Llucmajor, Inca, Sa Pobla, Alcúdia, Sóller and Calvià. You can read about the slightly morbid but really humorous tradition in my earlier blog post.

The photo was reproduced from a poster designed by Miquel Suñer.

Moltes gràcies.