|
San Antonio visitando a Pablo el Hermitaño,
D. Velázquez, 1936-38 |
The festival of Sant Antoni Abad (
Saint Anthony Abbot) is the most popular and vibrant, which is celebrated between
January 16 and 17 in many Majorcan villages.
The festival starts
on 16 January at dusk, when the street bonfires are lit. It´s the Sant
Antoni´s Eve, the Patron Saint of domestic animals, and one of the most
magical nights in Mallorca when former fertility rituals were held. The
ritual remembers all temptations this saint had to overcome in the
desert.
On this night locals eat
sobrassada
(Mallorcan sausage meat) cooked on embers in the street, as well as
other types of sausage meats and traditional local foods; there is also
plenty of wine. The demons wander from bonfire to bonfire, performing
their special dance. The festival gets under way with traditional folk
songs, which remind
locals of the saint´s heroic deeds; however, there are also some
saucier songs, and it these which are really popular.
On 17 january
there are processions that represent traditional scenes
from Mallorcan rural life; in addition to this, pets are blessed and the
demons chase the figure of Sant Antoni, with children playing an
essential part in the festival.
Each village has its own demon:
|
Algaida |
|
Artà |
|
Capdepera |
|
Consell |
|
Manacor |
|
Montuiri |
|
Muro |
|
Petra |
|
|
|
|
Porreres |
|
Porto Cristo |
|
Sa Pobla |
|
San Joan |
|
|
|
|
Sant Llorenç |
|
Son Carrió |
|
Son Macià |
|
Son Servera |
No comments:
Post a Comment