What’s On

Sant Sebastià

There is one last big hurrah in January, so don’t put your dancing shoes away quite yet because a few days after Sant Antoni, it is time to celebrate Sant Sebastià.

This patron Saint of Palma was a Christian martyr who was shot and killed by an arrow during the Roman persecution of the Christians. The fiesta of Sant Sebastià is celebrated over several days in Palma (full programme of events on Ajuntament Palma website).

This is a seriously important fiesta for Mallorca’s capital city with a full programme of cultural events and entertainment. You can expect pyrotechnics, more open fires and more excited demons running through the streets. Large stages appear around the city in the squares to host open-air concerts playing a range of music which is aimed to appeal to music lovers of all ages and preferences.

A lot of the action happens in Plaça Cort and Plaça Major. Sant Sebastià is loud, energetic, and colourful and again there is always a lot of food and drink to be enjoyed in this carnival atmosphere.

by jonny

Cycling

Mallorca plays host to the opening skirmishes of the professional road bike racing season in late January. Big name teams and riders head to the island, many choose to make it their base for winter training camps.

The men's event runs it's 33rd edition this year between 24-28th January, and for the first time this year the top professional women racers have their own event 20-22nd January.

Roads will be closed as the riders make their way around the island.
Click the link below for details for their routes. The final is normally on the Passeig Marítim with the finishing line in front of the Cathedral.

Catch them if you can.

by jonny

Sant Antoni

The next big event of the new year happens around the 17th January when the fiesta of Sant Antoni is celebrated island wide. Sant Antoni was allegedly a very simple man with a reputation for being very kind to animals; The celebration of his Saint’s day begins the evening before with much music and dance. The cold winter nights are tempered by the open braziers (torradas) which are lit on the street for people to bring their own food to barbeque and enjoy a very unusual street party. Groups of people dress up as Dimonis and run through the street with crazy fireworks to ward off evil spirits. It is spectacular, exciting, a little bit scary, but actually a lot of fun. If you are thinking of "dancing with the devils" which many do, don't wear synthetic fibres, and wear old clothes as sparks from their fireworks may land and burn little holes. It may seem like chaos, but actually it is very organised and if you look on the edges of the event you will see fire services always present and watching.

Places to check out: Sa Pobla,  Manacor, Artà, Pollença, Santanyí, Son Servera, Andratx, Algaida and Muro. Other areas also celebrate this popular festival.

Perhaps the most charming aspect of Sant Antoni though are the Beneïdes, which translated, means the blessing of the animals. This custom originates from when islanders relied greatly on agriculture and animals and on 17th January, the farmers took their animals to the parish church to be blessed by the priest. This custom continues to this day although in 2024, the animals being blessed are more likely to be the family cat, dog, maybe a sheep, a goldfish, and some donkeys. But if you go to the more rural areas of the island then you will also see horses, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, and plenty of locals wearing the traditional clothes of their great grandparents.

Everyone is welcome to take their pet or animal to be blessed, it is customary to make a donation to the church when the priest blesses you. In some areas you are given a gift which makes a lovely souvenir of the day.

TIP: put a red neckerchief on your dog for the event!

by jonny

Three Kings

Phew! So that is New Year done but there will be no utterance of a diet or any temperance in these parts because the main event on the Spanish household is still to come on 5th and 6th January, when the arrival of the Three Kings is celebrated. It is a just little strange to us Brits, when you are out and about in early January, and the shops are still in full festive mode… “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Deck the halls” will still be blasting out as you join the locals doing their Christmas shopping.

On the night of 5th January, a carnival atmosphere abounds as the Kings arrive to much fanfare, laden with gifts for the children. Mostly by road, but sometimes by boat, these Kings processions happen all over the island and if you have never been to one, please put it on the ‘To Do’ list. Much thought and effort goes into this event, and it is nothing short of spectacular.

If you are in a town close to the sea, then you can expect the kings to arrive on a boat, and then parade through the town to the church. Local families will have dropped off gifts for the kids to the church in advance and the kings then hand out to the presents by name to the awe struck children.

Pretty much every town and village in Mallorca celebrates so you won't have to go far to find a parade. The biggest of all is in Palma and if you decide to go watch it there be prepared by going early to get a parking spot and a good view point. We personally recommend Las Ramblas as a good place to be to see everything. Check in our Facebook group for more information closer to the time.

by jonny

Olive Fair 

Set in the heart of the Mallorcan countryside, beautiful Caimari celebrates every November with its own festival dedicated to the traditional harvest and production of the island’s olives.  Aside from the fabulous olives and oils available, there is also a wide array of Mallorcan arts and crafts on sale. 

Everyone likes a decent bottle of local olive oil for Christmas!

Info here.

by jonny