The celebrations of Lent and Easter in Mallorca have been following the traditions of the Catholic church for centuries. Divendres Sant (Good Friday) is the date for the beginning of the Easter weekend and is marked in many pueblos with a reenactment of the Sant Sopar (Last Supper) and the crucifixion of Jesus on the […]
Read more "The Drama of the Passion Play"There are a lot of saints in Spain. Sant Antoni, for instance, whose saint’s day is being celebrated on January 17th (today), is invariably referred to as Sant Antoni de Viana, or Sant Antoni Abat or even Sant Antoniet. I can’t give you an explanation for that. I just know that they hold him dear, […]
Read more "Sant Antoni de Viana"Christmas in Mallorca is different from elsewhere, at least, it used to be. For a start, Christmas in Spain is, or used to be, a religious affair. It was traditionally celebrated as a family get-together with an opulent meal shared with friends on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and another meal shared with the extended family […]
Read more "A Mallorcan Christmas Tradition"Tomorrow, August 15th, Catholic Spain will be celebrating the Festividad de la Mare de Déu d’Agost, a national holiday commemorating the ascension and assumption of the Virgin Mary. In Mallorca, the Virgen Dormida will be on display in churches in Alaró, Algaïda, s’Arracó, Artà, Binissalem, Calvià, Campanet, Campos, Capdepera, Costitx, Deià, Felanitx, Fornalutx, Inca, Lloret de […]
Read more "Sleeping Beauties"Today, Setmana Santa (the Easter week) begins in Spain, and here in Mallorca. Lots of magical scenes can be seen all over the island, and plenty of powerful images can be taken if you so wished. On the last Sunday before Easter, Mallorca celebrates Diumenge des Ram (Palm Sunday), commemorating the entering of Jesus in […]
Read more "Setmana Santa And Easter Traditions in Mallorca"Living on an island which doubles as a mass holiday destination makes it seem a bit unseemly for me to consider Mallorca as a holiday place for ourselves. But that’s exactly what I want to suggest today. Have you considered the hilltop sanctuaries where one can spend a night or two, or a long weekend? Most […]
Read more "A Night or Two in a Mallorcan Monastery"The cathedral in Palma de Mallorca, locally known as La Seu, is a rather fine piece of architecture. Well, most cathedrals are. But this one is particularly beautiful due to its splendid setting directly by the sea front, with its slightly elevated position. La Seu was originally built on the site of a pre-existing Arab […]
Read more "Miquel Barceló’s Capilla de San Pedro"Raimundus Lullus, better known as Ramón Llull, was a writer, mystic and philosopher from the 13th Century. He was born in Palma de Mallorca in 1232-33. His personæ is hailed as one of the pillars of Mallorcan cultural history. He is long since dead, but his thoughts are still very influential in many of our ways […]
Read more "The Amazing Senyor Llull"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 when country people depended on wind and weather for pure survival, as did their animals. The gods were implored, offerings were made to them and […]
Read more "The Blessing of The Animals"One could well argue that a man from Petra in the centre of this island is the most famous Mallorcan ever. Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer is better known as Fray Junípero Serra, a name he adopted in honour of Saint Juniper when he joined the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called simply the Franciscans, […]
Read more "Mallorca’s Most Famous Son, 300 Years On"
Mallorca Observed 