A stay in Majorca is always a treat, yet it can be made all the more exciting when you time your stay to coincide with one of the numerous festivals and fiestas that take place across this lively island throughout the year. From summer celebrations to winter festivities, make sure you check out some of our favourite Majorcan cultural highlights. Events in Majorca are never done by halves, so you’re set up for a right treat.
Prepare for Lent with the Carnival
Perhaps the most famous of Majorca’s fiestas are tied into its extended Carnival, which usually kicks off in late February. Some locals like to call this period ‘els darrers dies’, which translates as ‘the last days’.
This is because Carnival marks the final days before the beginning of Lent, so people want to eat, drink and dance as much as they can. Make sure you do too, because every city in Majorca is going to have plenty going on, rich in flavours, colours and music.
Watch ancient warriors battle in Soller
In the 1500s, the Christians of Majorca marked their victory over vicious pirates from medieval Turkey, who had threatened the island. Today, in the city of Soller, that victory is celebrated with drink and music, yet the real highlight is seeing the locals gearing up in armour and play-weapons to re-enact the battle. If you’re in town in May, you can watch them rampage through the streets on their epic quest to once more vanquish the troublesome pirates from years gone by.
See some succulent sausages in Sant Joan
Events and festivals in Majorca also means fantastic food! Everybody dreams of that one perfect banger, and in Sant Joan they’ve got it down to an art. An autumn break to Majorca, namely in early October, gives you the chance to participate in Torrada d’es Botifarro. It’s a fiesta that celebrates the local sausage, with traditional recipes and presentations taking to the streets for some unforgettable flavours. You didn’t think it’d be all tapas and paella here, did you?
Celebrate the grape harvest in Binissalem
On the last weekend of September, the town of Binissalem rejoices at another year’s successful grape harvest with Fiesta del Vermar. Much like the autumn harvest festivals we see elsewhere, this event has its roots in the agricultural community, although today it’s celebrated by locals and holidaymakers alike. Try a local tipple, put on your dancing shoes and watch the procession take to the streets alongside passionate local music.
Watch the boat procession from the coast
Majorca’s relationship with the sea is forever tied to the island’s history and culture. Coastal towns like Soller, Cala Ratjada and Puerto Pollensa spend mid-July giving their appreciation to the Virgin del Carmen, locally regarded as the saint of the sea. Sailors, fishermen and those with ties to the briny blue take their boats out in a procession that attracts visitors and locals from far and wide, and you better believe there’s some great food and drink included, too.
Get some gifts from the Three Kings
The Three Kings celebration on 5th January is similar to that celebrated in mainland Spain, where local individuals dressed as the three wise kings of the original Nativity tale visit cities to lead processions. Sometimes they throw sweets to the crowd, so make sure you’re close at hand. In olden times, it was 5th January when gifts were exchanged in the Christmas tradition in Spanish-speaking countries, as it was believed closer to the timeline of the Nativity fable. Nowadays, Spanish Christmas is the same as European Christmas, as is Majorca’s. Either way, this tradition remains alive today, so make sure your winter break includes a Three Kings parade.
Watch Easter parades across the island
You might think we’re lucky with our Easter in the UK. Everyone loves a three-day weekend. Yet in Majorca, they have Easter Week, known also as ‘Semana Santa’ – the Holy Week. Parades of every shape and size can be seen in Palma, the capital, as well as throughout the island. Watch the dance, music and procession whenever you are in Majorca, then get ready for some fantastic street food, art and tasty beverages long into the night. Can you keep up with a whole week of revelry in this fun-filled Majorcan festival?
Dance by the bonfires in Sa Pobla
This is one of the best events in Majorca that requires your dancing shoes as well as an eager taste palette. Sa Pobla and its surrounding towns celebrate the January fiesta of San Antonio Abad by sparking up huge bonfires, which light up the night as Majorcans dance around in brightly coloured costumes. It’s quite the sight to see, so make sure you take part, all while staying safe of course. On top of that, the local savoury treat, espinegades, is served during this fiesta pretty often. It’s just like pizza, so feel free to try it.
Watch the parades and dances of Sant Bartomeu
Head back to Soller in late August to enjoy the fiesta of Sant Bartomeu, where slingshot contests and street foot races are all part of the fun. Literary minds are congratulated with prizes, and locals dance about town in exchange for gifts. Look out also for the nearby Fiesta de les Llanterns in Alcudia, where children carry lanterns made of melons and sing traditional songs of folklore.
Watch romance blossom in October
As autumn continues, towns and villages across Majorca celebrate The Virgins, or ‘Revetlla de les Verges’. With its origins in the celebration of Santa Ursula, every town and village in Majorca is suddenly alive with those serenading young women, who in return give local cakes and wine to those who approach them. It’s a pretty heart-warming sight, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get involved with the food, drink and celebration.
Head to Majorca for your next holiday to take part in one of Majorca’s festivals!
Which Majorcan event will be your favourite?
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