The Banner Festival in Palma
On December 31, 1229, the Aragonese king James I, known as the Conqueror, arrived at Madina Mayurqa, the name that the city of Palma was called at that time.
The king, who had landed in Mallorca a few months earlier at Santa Ponsa, advanced until reaching the municipality of Palma. After a resounding victory in Portopí, the Aragonese troops headed for the walls. The capture of the city was brutal and bloody, resulting in many casualties, causing an epidemic that affected both conquerors and conquered alike.
The king's troops took control of the entire island, except for a small stronghold that entrenched itself in the Tramontana Mountain range and soon succumbed.
The Banner Festival celebrates James I's victory in Ciutat, as well as the incorporation of Mallorca into the European Christian kingdoms. The celebration was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage and is one of the oldest in Europe, with its origins dating back to the 13th century.
The Banner Festival Today
It is a must-attend event for citizens and visitors spending Christmas and New Year in Palma and its surroundings. The Banner Festival has evolved over time, adapting to new cultural and social conditions.
Today, it kicks off on the evening of December 30, when the music corporation attends the singing of the Salve to the Virgin of Health at the church of Sant Miquel. After this act, a procession heads to Plaza de España, presided over by the equestrian statue of James I.
Here, one of the main events of the day takes place, the wreath-laying ceremony by representatives of Mallorca's institutions.
On the following day, the last day of the year, the festival revolves around the banner, which is placed in the middle of the town hall square. The facade of the Consistorial House is adorned with bands of red fabric, featuring the city's coat of arms and the portrait of the conquering king.
In the center of Plaza de Cort, the royal banner is placed while the anthem of Mallorca, La Balanguera, is played. Subsequently, a procession towards the Cathedral of Mallorca begins, led by the mounted police of Palma, the Tamborers de la Sala, and the Balearic Brotherhood of Knights of Saint George. They are accompanied by the cavallets, cossiers, and minstrels of the Consell de Mallorca. They are also followed by the honor guards, the Cimera and the Macers de la Sala, the entire council headed by the mayor, the Chief of Protocol, and the Chief of the Local Police of Palma.
The municipal band is responsible for providing musical accompaniment to the procession.
The Religious Aspect of the Banner Festival
The religious aspect of this festival in Palma takes place in the Cathedral of Mallorca, where a special mass is celebrated, during which some dances are performed.
When the Eucharist concludes, the entourage returns to Plaza de Cort, where the banner is raised to the sound of La Balanguera, and La Colcada, by Pere de Alcántara Penya, is performed.
It is a celebration worth experiencing, also used to proclaim the Illustrious Sons of the city.
