The Mallorca Guide
 

Mallorcan Festivals

Festival of St Anthony

St Anthony is the patron saint of farm animals. Fiestas are held in his honour throughout Mallorca around the 17th of January (his Saint Day). The festival centres around two main themes: St Anthony’s triumph over the temptations of the devil and the blessing of animals.

The revelry involves a night of celebration (usually on the 16th of January) with traditional dancing, music, bonfires and people dressed in devil costumes. The bonfire in these celebrations symbolise purification and the renovation of life – the triumph of good over bad. A highlight of this magical night is the ‘Dance of the Demons’ which symbolises the frequent tempting of St Antony by the Devil. As with most festivals, food is high on the agenda and St Antony’s fiestas are no different with feasts of barbequed Mallorcan specialties  commonplace. After a wild night the following day is more serious. Following holy mass, animals are paraded through the streets to receive the saint’s blessing. The biggest of the St Antony fiestas are held in Sa Pobla, Arté and Pollença.

In Sa Pobla festivities commence with the lighting of a bonfire to start the ‘Revetla of St Antony’ – marking the beginning of the witching night. Participants dress as devils and dance around the bonfire to traditional music played on ximbombades (a traditional drum).

The fiesta in Arté starts the morning of the 16th of January with chocolate and ensaimadas (traditional Mallorcan buns). Afterwards, musicians parade through the streets accompanied by devils and other symbols of human temptation. In the afternoon fragments of the Saint’s life are read out and the ‘Lo Elogi’ is sung. Festivities end in the evening around a bonfire where everyone sings (sometimes rude) songs on this night of fire and devils.

In Pollença the fiesta is held on the 17th of January. The morning sees a traditional parade of floats and the blessing of animals. Everyone then goes to the ‘Ternelles’ (an area north of the town) to have a feast and fetch a tall pine tree. The tree is then placed in the town square and all the young men of the town try to climb the 20 metres (or so) of the tree.