Customs & Traditions
The Fiesta de San Antonio goes back a very long time indeed, here on the island of Mallorca. In Pollença, for instance, documents show that the Festa de Sant Antoni […]
Customs & Traditions
The San Antonio celebrations are coming up any moment now, possibly constituting the single most important traditional festivity on the island (Festa de Sant Antoni, in Catalan). More about Sant […]
Mallorca
One would not normally expect Mallorca to be a destination for winter sports. Once, many years ago, I came across a Palacio de Hielo in Palmanova, or was it Magaluf? […]
History
Classical music in Mallorca on a philharmonic or symphonic level was made possible thanks to the love affair of a Korean composer and a young señorita from Mallorca. Eak-Tai Ahn, […]
Customs & Traditions
Do you know the district of Sa Calatrava in Palma’s upper old town? The barrio can be found in the immediate neighbourhood of the Call, Palma’s old Jewish quarters. In […]
Customs & Traditions
It’s a bit early, this year’s almond blossom. Usually, the almond blossom season in Mallorca gets into its full bloom around the January full moon but, that’s another nine days […]
Boats
For five weeks now, Spain has been in the throes of an Estado de Alarma (State of Emergency) and will continue to be so at least until 24h00, January 15th. […]
Bars & Restaurants
With the festivities of Christmas, New Year and Three Kings behind us, now in January it is time for the Festa de Sant Antoni. The fiesta involves large bonfires up […]
Customs & Traditions
Barely two weeks after everybody else observed Christmas (December 25th), Mallorca’s Orthodox Christians actually celebrate their Christmas today, January 7th. Celebrations took place on Christmas Eve, Orthodox style, last night […]
Customs & Traditions
The Reyes Magos made their appearance last night all over Spain as well as here on the island of Mallorca. One essential part of the festivities is the traditional Roscón […]
Customs & Traditions
Tomorrow, Spain will celebrate the Fiesta de SS. MM. Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings from the Orient), another public holiday and the last one of this festive season. Reyes (or […]
Bars & Restaurants
I am pleased to report that here in Felanitx (Mallorca) the newly introduced smoking ban has been successfully implemented so far. The ban came into law two days ago, and […]
Customs & Traditions
I can find no evidence that good old Auld Lang Syne would have been sung a great deal here in Mallorca on Hogmanay, the last day of the year. It […]
Animals
My wife commented on yesterday’s blog entry which, in her opinion, was all a bit gloomy. She is probably right; it was all a bit of the glass is half […]
Bars & Restaurants
Phew. What a year it has been. Only one year ago, the New Year began with Spain taking over the presidency of the European Union. Pomp and a festive mood […]
Fiestas & Festivals
December 31st is Jaume I’s big day, or so we are told. Mallorca had been governed by Moorish Walís since the year 902. Already in 1205, King Pedro II of […]