Sant Antoni warms up the engines, all set for the festivities
The celebrations of Saint Anthony are among the most deeply rooted in Mallorca. They take place between January 16 and 17, the saint's day, in almost every municipality on the island, although the most famous ones that nobody wants to miss are Sa Pobla, Manacor, Pollença, Artà, or Muro.
The celebration has its origins in pagan ceremonies that took place on the islands, where farmers entrusted themselves to Saint Anthony, the patron saint of domestic animals, to seek his protection.
According to legend, the saint was born in Egypt in the year 251, became an orphan, and took care of a younger sister. He decided to distribute his wealth among the poor. After leaving the girl in the care of a religious community, the saint journeyed into the desert to live a life of fasting and penance.
Demons and Bonfires
Demons and fire are the main protagonists of this festival, taking advantage of the cold winter to take to the streets, celebrate, eat, and drink around bonfires.
In Sa Pobla, on January 16, the "witchiest night" takes place, where demons emerge from the town hall, turning it into a spectacle of lights and fireworks. Accompanied by thunderous music, the "dimonis" dance through the town, playing pranks, accompanied by traditional music.
In Artà, Muro, Pollensa, or Manacor, with small variations, the celebration is very similar and revolves around grotesque figures that evoke inhabitants of hell. It's also an opportunity to enjoy local and popular gastronomy.
It's time to grill sobrasada, sausages, bacon, loin, and bread over the fire and taste the espinagadas. These are stuffed pastries made with cabbage and cauliflower, originally prepared only with eel, but nowadays can also be enjoyed with pork loin. They are especially popular in Sa Pobla, where they are often highly seasoned, especially with spicy spices.
Beneïdes, the Blessing of the Animals
The next day, the towns of Mallorca celebrate, with small differences according to the tradition of each area, the "beneïdes."
People with animals and pets’ parade before the parish priest or church representative to receive the blessed water of Saint Anthony.
The esplanade of the Cathedral of Mallorca, in Palma, is filled with animals blessed in a parade that lasts for hours, often attended by school children from the area to enjoy the festivities. In Muro, the celebration is very similar.
And in Pollensa, the Pi de Sant Antoni stands out, a tradition that leads a group of volunteers to bring a pine tree from the possession of Ternellas to the Plaza Vella de la Vila. There, the trunk, cleaned of branches and bark, is soaped, and supported in the square so that the young people of the town try to climb it to reach the top, where once a live rooster, and now a plastic one, awaits in a cage for the victor.
Sant Antoni is a festival worth experiencing. The fire, the demons, the cold, the spiciness of sobrasadas, and espinagada make the first official festival of the year on the island - after the Kings - a very special gathering experienced intensely throughout Mallorca. Of course, there are other festivals, and we explored some of them in this blog post.
