Holidays in Mallorca: between folklore and markets

One of the most followed fairs in Mallorca is Dijous Bo with a very high influx of people who come from all over the island to admire the markets in the city of INCA.
Stalls of handicraft products, food, animals and more. You will find a little bit of everything in this market, including local folk with dancing and singing.
This fair is always around mid-November and strictly on Thursdays.
Advice: arrive early, parking is a mission impossible!

December begins with a series of festivities that starting from the 6th, the day of the Constitution, continue with the Immaculate Conception on the 8th and then culminate in the Christmas period.

Starting from the beginning of the month you can find Christmas markets in different cities of the island, first of all Palma, in particular plaza Mayor and Plaza d’España.

Just outside the center of the capital, at the Pueblo Español (open all year at a cost of 5 euros and which is a sort of summary of all types of Spanish architecture) some very beautiful and rich markets are set up.

This opportunity not only allows you to do artisanal shopping and bring back somethings special from your holidays , but also to admire the beauty of the pueblo español.

January begins with the Cavalcade of the Magi, a festival as traditional as it is colorful. On the 8th and 9th, however, in Campos, the Eve of Sant Julià is celebrated in which the first bonfires of the winter festivities are lit.

On the 16th there is the fiesta de Sant Honorat, the patron saint of Algaida. During this last anniversary, six men and a woman dance to the rhythm of a music invoking ancient divinities.

The 16th is also the day when the island is illuminated by countless bonfires lit for the Vigilia De Sant Antoni Abat, protector of livestock and farmers, a festival that is celebrated in almost all the villages of Mallorca as well as in Palma with barbecues set up in the various neighborhoods and in which the entire population participates.

In the period around 21st January the Feast of San Sebastià is celebrated (the festival begins several days earlier with concerts in the square and live music), with the traditional Correfoc, which can be translated into Spanish as “runs fire” is a festival of Catalan origin in which a group of people, known as “colla” dress up as demons, spit fire and perform fireworks displays.

Following the rhythm of the drums, the «dimonis» carry out their peculiar performance in the streets and in front of the crowd. The bravest are able to enter these pyrotechnic circles always with long sleeves, cotton sweatshirts and hoods to protect themselves from possible burns.

In February, the most important festival is the Carnival, during which parades of floats and people in costume take place.

Central to the celebration is the Carnival parade (there are in fact two, the children´s parade ´Sa Rueta´ and the grown-up´s parade ´Sa Rua´ ) which involves bands, floats, costumes, masks and lots of dancing. It is a riot of colour and merry-making. The biggest and most exuberant parade of course takes place in Palma.

In February also starts the Fira del Ram, an enormous annual Funfair which lasts until Easter weekend. So, if you are a lover if fairgrounds then Palma is the place to be.

March 1st begins with the feast of the Balearic Islands. A mainly gastronomic fair is set up in the area of the Parc de la Feixina in Palma. Food and music accompanies the evenings in the square.

Holy Week takes place between March and April. Solemn processions take place in all the cities of Mallorca, the most characteristic being those of Sineu and Palma. Characteristic is the representation of the Davallament, celebrated on Good Friday in Pollenca, where the inhabitants carry the figure of Jesus in procession from the oratory, located on top of a hill, to the church of Our Lady of the Angels.

Sant Jordi: with a book and a rose. The main bookstores in Palma open stalls to the street and for the purchase of a book they give a red rose. Thus, for a day, not only the Balearic capital, but most of the island’s municipalities, becomes a cultural paradise that encourages reading among its citizens.

Between march and April the “valley of the orange trees“, between the towns of Sóller, Port de Sóller and Fornalutx, pays tribute once a year to its most renowned fruit: the orange.

This product heads the agenda of activities of the Orange Fair and the elaboration of menus for restaurants in the area. Menus that make up the Orange Gastronomic Days, a proposal that allows visitors to enjoy a tasting of the best taste of Soller through creative dishes.

Every year on June 23rd, the city of Palma celebrates the Night of San Juan.

A night of celebration and fire that stands out for the great correfoc in the Parc del Mar in which demons from many associations participate.