Hug A Tree
Hug a tree or, even better, plant a tree. That’s the motto of Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year for Trees. Tu Bishvat is one of the four Jewish new […]
The Animal Blessing Ritual
The blessing of the animals is an essential and indispensable part of Mallorca’s Sant Antoni celebrations. The ritual is called Beneïdes and quite possibly has its origins in pre-Christian times […]
Sant Honorat And the Cossiers
Whilst all other villages in Mallorca are preparing for their Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià festivities, the pueblo of Algaida today celebrates its patron saint, Sant Honorat. The main attraction […]
The Festa de Sant Antoni
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 […]
Palma’s Sa Calatrava District
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 […]
Mallorca’s Christian Orthodox Churches
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 […]
The Roscón de Reyes
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 […]
Three Kings’ Helpers
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 […]
The Sibil.la Prophecies
The Cant de la Sibil·la is an important part of the Christmas celebrations here in Mallorca. You might have read in the local media that UNESCO heritage laurels were bestowed […]
Midwinter Sun
Last night was the longest night of this year. Not only was the Moon eclipsed by the shadow of the Earth some 16 hours earlier yesterday, albeit invisibly here in […]
The Heritage of Valldemossa
It is a pity really that the pueblo of Valldemossa seems to suffer the dubious fame of being associated forever with not much more than the visit by Frédéric Chopin […]
Swedish Santa Lucia Lights
Traditionally, December 13th is considered as being the shortest day with the longest night of the year in Sweden. Why that is I cannot tell you. I suppose it has […]
Betlems in Mallorca
Betlems or Beléns (Nativity scenes) in Mallorca are a wonderful thing. In the past, most Mallorcan families had one in their house; many of them still do. One of the […]
An Immaculate Bonfire
Son Mesquida is a small hamlet near Felanitx with perhaps 250 inhabitants. The Festes de la Immaculada are celebrated in this pueblecito every year in December with an immaculate fogueron […]
The Festival of Lights
I cannot tell you how many lights were lit last night on the Menorah here in Mallorca on the sunset before the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. […]
No Sound Of Music
In the past few years, musical presentations and concerts were put on in Mallorca during the week leading up to November 22nd on the occasion of Santa Cecília (Saint Cecilia, […]
