The Sardine’s Mock Funeral
The Sardine was buried in Felanitx last night, the night before Ash Wednesday (today). The mock funeral sermon was thoroughly enjoyable for its wit, burlesque mockery and joyous satire. I […]
The Demise of a Sardine
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 […]
Dances With Bears
Els Óssos i en Joanet de l’Onso is the name of a group of six infant dancers plus an adult leader who are part of a newly formed folkloric act […]
Mallorcan Almonds
Almonds in Mallorca are not in full bloom quite yet but, the first signs of the imminent beginning of the almond blossom season are apparent all over the island. The […]
The Year of the Dragon
After the Jewish New Year (September 28th, 2011), the Islamic New Year (November 14th, 2011), the Gregorian New Year (January 1st, 2012) and the Berber New Year (January 13th, 2012), […]
Sant Honorat and the Cossiers of Algaïda
The patron saint of the village of Algaïda, Sant Honorat (Saint Honorat), is celebrated every year on January 16th. Yesterday, the saint was honoured with a special church service during […]
Light My Fire
The Fogerons of Sant Antoni are one of the highlights of Mallorca’s traditional calendar of Festes, coinciding with the farmers’ patron saint day and the Festa de Sant Antoni. Tomorrow […]
The Berber New Year
Today, I want to wish a happy Yennayer (or Yennair) to Mallorca’s Berber community. This year, January 13th marks the first day of the Amazigh (the word for Berber) calendar, the […]
Campos and the Re-Animated Cossiers
The village (or is it a town?) of Campos celebrated their Patron Saint yesterday, Sant Julià. Festivities started last Friday, January 6th, and will continue until next Saturday, January 14th. Last […]
The Adoration of the Magi
Today, Spain celebrates the Festividad de Los Reyes Magos. The Three Kings, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, arrived last night to pay reverence to the recently born baby Jesus, and to […]
How to Avoid Bad Luck in the New Year
New Year’s Eve is called Noche Vieja in Spain. In Mallorcan, that would be Cap d’Any. The end of the year is particularly significant this year, both in Spain and […]
The Festa de l’Estendard
One of the most colourful celebrations in Mallorca is the annual Festa de l’Estendard on December 31st (tomorrow), celebrating the conquest of Madînat Mayûrqa, now Palma, by the troops of […]
Women in Red
Today is the day of the innocent pranks, Día de los Santos Inocentes (Day of the Innocent), Spain’s version of the Anglo-Saxon April Fool’s Day. Another three days, and it […]
Nit Sant and the Sibil·la Chant
Last night, Mallorca celebrated Nit Sant (Christmas Eve). A special church service is held on the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) called Matines de Nadal. These masses are probably the most […]
Siurells as Nativity Scenes
I like Mallorcan Siurells or Xiurells, hand-made white clay whistles decorated subtly with green and red markings. During the Christmas period, we can find Siurell figures and animals molded into […]
Galets de Nadal
Whilst you and I may be thinking of roast turkey when we think of Christmas, the average Mallorcan family looks forward to Galets de Nadal or a Sopa Rellena which […]
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